War
in Iraq:
Chinks in the American Armour?
Columbia Space Shuttle
With
the tragic demise of the Columbia space shuttle on the eve of the US
invasion of Iraq, some have seen this event as an omen. Although US
leaders and NASA officials are saying that they will find out what happened
and will go on regardless, on cannot help wonder if they have missed
the point, or are in extreme denial.
The weakness in the damaged Columbia wing was exploited by the terrific
forces encountered on re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere. Likewise can
Iraq exploit weaknesses in the mighty US army machine? Just as the North
Vietnamese did forty years ago, eventually leading to their respective
victory?
Aquarius and its ruler Uranus are connected with space flight. The event chart for the disintegration of Columbus (Feb 1, 2003 – Hillsboro, TX. 7.59 am) is still uncertain time and place wise, yet has Uranus, Sun, Moon and Neptune all in Aquarius. One intuitive impression about the shuttle relates to the following:
“The Spirit of Synthesis, working through the great first ray Avatar (the Avatar of Synthesis) is closer to the Earth than ever before, and the clarity which will emerge in the Light of His Presence is already available; the tendency to integration can therefore be more easily fostered and a new synthesis attained among men. Before, however, integration and synthesis are possible, this first ray energy must work to destroy all that prevents integration and all that is hindering a needed synthesis. Human beings themselves must also destroy the prejudices, the animosities and the fixed ideas which have prevented synthesis, which have created cleavages and hindered right understanding.”[1]
For
integration to come about, disintegration quite often needs to precede
it, whether that be a space shuttle or our own inner processes. Some
issues that have resurfaced since the shuttle crash are the extraordinary
billions spent on space research and travel, whilst the Earth herself
languishes in poverty and pollution. Some argue that if the combined
mind power of space research scientists were harnessed, it could solve
some of the world’s greatest environmental and social problems.
The imminent issue of course is the proposed invasion of Iraq by the
US and the proverbial assortment of problems that it may open up. Whether
we agree with it or not, the invasion will go ahead, quite possibly
around the full moon of Aquarius, one date which this author selected
several months ago as a likely scenario for war.
There are several issues at stake here, including the invalidation of
the UN’s power because of independent decisions that the US or others
may make. Yet some argue that the weakness or indecisiveness of the
UN is not helping her live up to global responsibilities, therefore
some nations must act.
The US has said that it will launch a blitzkrieg upon Baghdad with hundreds
of cruise missiles for the first 48 hours of the war in an effort to
demoralise the people and bring about a rapid victory. Hence the aftermath
of the war would be very ugly, with a high death toll and the humanitarian
crisis of millions of refugees.
An all-out Arab conflict is also possible, with Israel entering into
the fray. The biggest threat is the potential use of nuclear weapons
by one nation, or by several nations as a chain reaction to the first
one. Israel has said it will use nuclear weapons if attacked by Iraq.
Iraq may have nuclear weapons awaiting activation if attacked by the
US. This is the great-unknown risk that accompanies the Middle East
war scenario.
Also to consider is the already enormous anti-US/Western attitudes in
many Arab nations and indeed the Islamic world as a whole. It will take
many years as it is to repair those attitudes through education and
goodwill, let alone after a major war in the Middle East.
Just as the US has been repeatedly hit hard by small groups, whether
it be the North Vietnamese or Al Qaeda, there is no reason to expect
that it could not happen again with Iraq, despite the US’s goliath-like
army and weaponry. Therein lies the omen and warning of the Columbus,
the chink in the armour.
The space shuttle carried individuals from around the world, notably
from two other nuclear-powered nations, India and Israel. There were
seven astronauts, corresponding to the ‘Seven Rishis’ of the Great Bear
constellation, transmitter of the terrific force of the First Ray of
Will or Power, upon which the Avatar of Synthesis draws.
Perhaps the Columbus crash indicates that Humanity needs to come back
down to Earth and get its priorities right. To focus on the problems
of this planet before space exploration goes any further. To put in
place pragmatic visions and ideals which are capable of being realised
and which can bring the Earth to a place of balance and harmony.
Transits and Progressions in the USA Chart Feb 2003. (See also previous essay on Iraq)
USA
a.
February 16, 2003 full moon and transiting Uranus sit precisely on USA’s
Moon and its progressed Sun in Aquarius, a major factor in the destiny
of this nation. The fixed star Regulus is also conjoined by the progressed
Sun and full moon Sun. The forces of Sirius are said to focus through
Regulus, esoterically called ‘the heart of the lion’.
b. USA’s progressed Moon has moved to conjoin natal Mars, Iraq’s Moon
and the June 2002 solar eclipse. It is precisely conjunct Iraq’s Moon
about two weeks before.
c. Transiting Saturn makes a station conjunct natal Mars.
d. Transiting Mars and Pluto at the Aquarian full moon both oppose USA’s
Mars, progressed Moon and stationary Saturn! This pattern lasts for
several weeks and is a most dire and dangerous combination. The opposition
of these planets makes a T-square to Neptune in the ninth house of the
USA chart. This indicates a major challenge in maintaining the higher
vision and ethics, though the point of least resistance could well be
subterfuge and deception, and/or the use of biological weapons.
e. Aquarian full moon of February 2003 squares Israel’s Sun in Taurus,
Sharon and Arafat’s Moons in Taurus.
The above points for America are extraordinarily important, especially (a) and (d).
With regard to (a) and the line-up of progressed Sun, full moon Sun and transiting Uranus on America’s Moon in Aquarius, this directly connects to the activation of her Aquarian soul. Yet blocking that very soul expression are the unredeemed qualities of the Moon, always a symbol of the Dweller or shadow in a horoscope.The shadow aspect of an Aquarian Moon is not playing the team game, or engaging in group process, but instead activating the lower Leo polarity of selfishness and forceful domination. If America can access the ‘veiled’ forces of Uranus behind its Moon then, “Uranus is the medium for the 7th ray and the function of its blending with the fourth, via the Moon, is to bring about a magical relationship between the many diverse nationalities found in the States and so fuse and blend them into an homogeneous whole..” [2] Just as America was challenged then to bring about a fusing and blending within herself, now it seems that the challenge is far more global.
As the Aquarian Moon makes difficult aspects to the Cancer Sun and Saturn, it seems that she can only cope with that which lies within her borders. If point (d) is considered, the planet Mars is another ‘non-sacred’ planet and represents aspects of the unredeemed personality and dweller. The following [3] explores the challenges of America’s Ray Six personality as expressed through Mars, the planet currently receiving much stimulation in America’s horoscope.
Mars in Gemini is the God of War in the sign of the warring brothers, bringing about an awareness of the pairs of opposites, particularly on the mental plane. Mars is a symbol of the five physical senses, and Gemini relates particularly to the lower mind and information-assimilating processes. Hence this is a good position for journalists, researchers and scientists.
The combination of Mars in Gemini can work out as an intense expression of the lower or desire mind. It is the work of Venus, soul ruler of Gemini, to instil a sense of the higher mind and the bigger picture, also represented by polar opposite sign Sagittarius. Venus thereby harmonises the pairs of opposites through her ‘marriage’ to Mars.
Mars in Gemini in the seventh house is about aggressiveness in relationships, and how Americans have met whatever stood in the way of her Sagittarian expansiveness. But it is also about spirited, energetic dialogue and communication.
As Mars squares Neptune in the ninth house, there is a great challenge for America to discriminate clearly between its high idealism and a tendency to myth-making.[4] The glamours of the movie industry and music, addictive substances, emotional psychism and religious cults, are all up for review with this aspect. The American media, with its excesses and exaggerations, is another prime example of how truth is compromised.
Another manifestation of Mars square Neptune is the sharp intellect of Virgo and ninth/seventh house themes around legal matters. Litigation and craftily calculated documents deceive and are major problems borne out in the Cancer Sun square Libran Saturn – the abuse of the law through manipulative practices.
Mars
in the seventh house tends to spoil for a fight or argument, particularly
with foreign nations around issues of religion, if we consider Neptune
in the ninth house to which Mars is square. Gemini is the sign in common
between Britain and the USA:
“It is the Gemini influence which has produced — viewing the work of the
nation from the personality or lower angle — the secret and oft devious
diplomacy and subtlety which has in the past distinguished Great Britain's
political activity. Gemini people are often distrusted, and the Gemini
effect along this line makes of Great Britain no exception.”
If it was the soul energy of Gemini in Great Britain causing these traits, then imagine how much worse they could be expressed through the personality of a nation! Perhaps this is a legacy left to the child by the mother. Mars as a non-sacred planet in Gemini could certainly strengthen such characteristics.
With the square of Mars to Neptune, both co-rulers of the solar plexus, herein we see one of the major challenges for the Ray Six personality of this entity, America, bearing in mind that Mars and Neptune are the rulers of this ray: Emotionalism, sentimentality, reactivity, unrealistic idealism and mystical fogginess, to name a few. Gemini is one of the most reactive signs in the zodiac, because of its extreme etheric sensitivity and impressionability to its environment, which prompts continual reaction and response.
Therefore Mars in Gemini would be a major expression of America’s Ray Six personality and one of its worst liabilities. Mars rules firearms, and nowhere else in the world do so many people own guns and use them indiscriminately. Gemini is well known for its lack of discrimination. Mars in the seventh house is America’s shadow or ‘Dweller’, and brings into awareness that which is in need of redeeming. It is easy for her to project this onto all her relationships with foreign countries. Mars and Neptune have been mentioned much in relation to the Gemini-Ray Six personality of America.[5]
“Ray 6 — Idealism or Devotion, via Mars. This greatly augments the sixth ray personality of the States, thus presenting very real problems in a young people who are apt always to be fanatical and exclusive. Exclusiveness is one of the major weaknesses of the sixth ray type.” [6]
The challenge of America’s Mars square Neptune is for the higher forces of sacred planet Neptune to supervene over the lower more material expression of non-sacred planet Mars:
“The tests and difficulties and pains of this era are symptoms or indications of the "entering into manifestation" of the new civilisation and culture. They portend the birth of the new era for which the entire world waits. This will happen if—speaking esoterically—the sixth ray energy of Mars is transmuted into the sixth ray energy of Neptune, for the one is "objective and full of blood" and the other is "subjective and full of life."” [7]
This is a fascinating consideration, given that America’s esoteric role is to be a leading nation in the fledgling sixth subrace.
Gemini represents two extreme aspects of the American personality: Pacifist (Neptune) and Aggressor (Mars). For the Ray Six personality of America to mature and integrate, Mars in Gemini square to Neptune in Virgo has to be resolved. America’s forcefulness (Mars) in relationships (seventh house), must be superseded by discriminating (Virgo) dialogue (Gemini) that seeks to understand foreign (ninth house) cultures and religions (Neptune/ninth house), as well as its own aspirations and ideals.
America’s sometimes scattered Gemini personality needs to be tempered with her more discriminating Virgo qualities. As Virgo expresses most strongly the Second Ray in this cycle,[8] and as it is the one of the most powerful expressions of the Christ force,[9] the successful resolution of this square will result in the soul expression of the nation, working through a perfected and integrated personality.
Sagittarius is the strongest conduit for Sixth Ray energy in this cycle,[10] and is ruled by Mars at an hierarchical level. Somewhat paradoxically, Sagittarius is the rising sign of the American horoscope and seeks to express the Ray 2 soul of the nation. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, ruler of Ray 2, so there is an opportunity provided by these seeming contradictions to integrate the Ray 6 personality with the Ray 2 soul.
The
Ray 6 personality relates to the solar plexus centre of the nation, and
the Ray Two soul to the heart centre. Therefore, as with many evolving
entities, the main battleground for America is between these two centres.
[11] Success in moving to the heart will transform from:
”the preacher to the teacher, from devotion to love, love of the distant
ideal to love expressed here and now, intrusive to magnetic, narrowness
to breadth, partiality to inclusiveness, violence to gentleness, idealism
to humanism, rushing forward to wise slowness, and fanaticism to moderation.”
[12]”
1. At the full moon in Aquarius 2003, Mars and Pluto are in a deadly precise conjunction, ranged opposite America’s Mars in Gemini. Pluto, another ‘non-sacred’ planet, will be opposing Mars until October 2005, therefore this time will be a most intense one for America, as she comes to terms with her Ray Six personality. Indeed, transiting Pluto will bring out all that is worst in the American personality. During this period America runs the extreme danger of receiving as much as it gives out. If ever there was a chance of her coming under attack on her own soil, this is the time. Of course she will be at her most aggressive, and her coming under attack may be a result of her own aggression. Incidentally, America’s Mars sits on Iraq’s Venus and Moon in Gemini. Mars in Gemini cunning may be well matched by Iraq’s wily Moon in Gemini. The sheer diversification and ramification of America’s military might is a reflection of Mars in Gemini.
2. The progressed Moon in the American chart moves up to an exact conjunction with natal Mars by the end of March 2003. Given that the natal Aquarian Moon is being highly activated, as described in (a), and which relates to her shadow nature, the progressed Moon conjunct Mars (two non-sacred planets) will be a ‘double-whammy’ of America really confronting her unredeemed nature.
3. Saturn, the Lord of Karma, will have slowed to a ‘stationary’ position at the full moon of Aquarius, sitting directly over America’s Mars. It takes until the end of March to move away completely. Saturn in this influence could well see restraint applied to Mars, with diplomatic solutions being sought and won, but on a knife edge, if at all. Saturn will apply the most stringent tests to the American psyche, and its opposition to transiting Pluto will create much tension in the struggle for power. The opposition of these two planets across Mars create a ‘T-square’ focussed upon America’s Neptune, setting off the natal Mars square Neptune. This natal pattern of Mars-Neptune is ‘besieged’ from all sides and will be direly tested. Therefore it seems, diplomatic or UN efforts notwithstanding, that an Iraq invasion could well begin around the Aquarian full moon, finding a most intense expression of the battle from late February to March. For an earlier analysis involving three charts for Iraq and other players, see www.esotericastrologer.org/EAessaysPGL10.htm
Appendix
This is an edited email that Columbia crew member Laurel Clark sent to
family and friends the day before she died:
"Hello from above our magnificent planet Earth. The perspective is truly awe-inspiring. This is a terrific mission and we are very busy doing science round the clock. Just getting a moment to type email is precious, so this will be short, and distributed to many who I know and love.
"I have seen some incredible sights: lightning spreading over the Pacific, the Aurora Australis lighting up the entire visible horizon with the cityglow of Australia below, the crescent moon setting over the limb of the Earth, the vast plains of Africa and the dunes on Cape Horn, rivers breaking through tall mountain passes, the scars of humanity, the continuous line of life extending from North America, through Central America and into South America, a crescent moon setting over the limb of our blue planet. Mount Fuji looks like a small bump from up here, but it does stand out as a very distinct landmark.
"I feel blessed to be here, representing our country and carrying out the research of scientists around the world. The food is great and I am feeling very comfortable in this new, totally different environment.
This
was definitely one to beat all.
Phillip Lindsay © 2003
Battleground for the World Disciple”.
Aphrodite cupped her ear in the still night, straining to some distant music pouring down from the dark and glittering vault overhead. She lay there in the summer grass by her sleeping white bull as the heavenly music played through her being. Her long auburn hair clothed her like a bridal train and luminous amethyst radiated around her pale white skin. Her ears tingled magically and she could feel the air pressure changing around her head as the inner sound sought to make itself felt. She began to sing…
Procreation becomes creation. Creative procreation. She harmonises and brings into equilibrium the interaction between spirit and matter – and her offspring are love and beauty. The exaltation of the Moon in Taurus is related to the creation of these forms - bodies to inhabit, vehicles of expression. The Moon’s co-rulership of the ray of Harmony Through Conflict, speaks of the conflict and pain involved in the birthing process; that which is upon the plane of Harmony, must eventually find its way onto the physical – in order for the Divine Plan to unfold. The Moon is the feminine aspect of form building that is related more to the personality and its needs.
Yet she also ‘veils’ Vulcan (soul ruler of Taurus), the masculine builder. Vulcan hammers the divine template into shape; fashioning with the flame and fire of the smithy’s furnace and forge. His ‘masculine’ hammer strikes the ‘feminine’ anvil. He is the inner spiritual individual, the soul, as he has to go ‘down into the depths to find the material upon which to expend his innate art and to fashion that which is beautiful and useful’. Vulcan, or ‘Hephaestos’ in the Greek tradition, re-fashions the form with more refined substance - of gold and precious metals, hardened steel and rare alloys. The stronger, more beautiful form allows it to reach back up to the ‘heavenly realms’. Venus’s marriage to Vulcan is therefore a ‘marriage made in heaven’.
They are both related to the formless realms of atma, buddhi and manas – and yet they are intimately related to the physical plane; hence the practicality and resourcefulness of Taurus. The desire aspect of Taurus lusts after physical experience - whether it be eating, drinking, having sex, appropriating or spending money. Desire repolarised for the Taurean upon the path becomes burning aspiration. The higher use of the sex energy for example, works out as focused creative activity in the throat centre, which Taurus is related to through its rulership of the neck, throat and thyroid gland. Creation through love and will at this level moves the forces of the sacral centre to the throat. The physical throat is therefore employed to bring about some fundamental changes through ‘directed and motivated’ speech. The throat centre is the vehicle through which the mental body creates.
The organs of speech employ language to ‘clothe thought’ and the ‘word is made flesh’, thought is bought into form; hence the sacredness of language and right speech for the world aspirant - the aspiring Taurean on the upward way. Taurus rules the ears as well, perhaps the inner as well as the outer ears.
Consider Taurus rising Wagner, with Venus and Mercury also placed here. The divine music that came through his inner being, called the Nadha Brahma by the Hindus - helped him touch the heights of buddhi; beauty is born or borne by the Divine Hermaphrodite (Mercury-Venus). Brahms, David Helfgott and Peter Sculthorpe are some other musicians and composers who have Taurus Suns.
Many singers have Taurus prominent in their horoscopes. The beauty (Ray 4) and the harmony (Venus) they express enriches the world. Enya, Dame Nellie Melba, Barbara Streisand and Roy Orbison are/were Taurus Suns; Dionne Warwick and Diana Ross have Taurus Moons.Reflect for a moment on the relationship between that which perceives the inner sound (ears) and then expresses it (throat, mouth, tongue) - both ruled by Taurus.
There is a profound analogy here to do with one’s achieved alignment through ‘listening’ which invokes the higher Will - and the corresponding evocation, reception and translation - via speech, sound, singing or music. ‘The middle ear is a narrow, air-filled cavity in the temporal bone. It is spanned by a chain of three tiny bones—the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup), collectively called the auditory ossicles. This ossicular chain conducts sound from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear, which has been known since the time of Galen (2nd century AD) as the labyrinth.’ Note Vulcan’s hammer and anvil at work within the auditory processes (which Taurus rules) and also the presence of the ‘labyrinth’ wherein King Minos hides his bull. Taurus the Bull is ‘Nandi’, the ‘vahan’ or vehicle of Siva. Siva is the deity of Will and Power and hence an expression of the first ray.
Therefore Siva is synonymous with Vulcan, soul ruler of Taurus. There is a profound relationship that exists here to Sanat Kumara, the Lord of the World. Sanat Kumara sits at the centre of Shamballa, personified as Siva sitting in meditation upon Mount Kalaish near the Wesak Valley. He directs and sees over the precipitation of The Plan and world karma. The Wesak festival at the full moon of Taurus celebrates the birth and teachings of the Buddha who it is said, returns every year and links up in a triangle of power with Sanat Kumara and The Christ. The assembled Hierarchy of Masters gather to focus and distribute the forces from this triangle over the full moon period, chanting mantrams in sacred ceremonial, and ‘pacing and interweaving the assembled crowd into the formation of geometrical figures’; they step down these forces to their disciples who work within the ranks of Humanity throughout the world.
Some who meditate and align themselves during this period visit Shamballa in dreams or meditation and have profound experiences. Shamballa is located in etheric matter somewhere in the Gobi desert, called in the ancient books the "White Island." To finish this brief glimpse into Taurus, an enigmatic statement from H.P. Blavatsky about Nandi, the White Island and the Lost Word:
“The
sacred bull Nandi was brought from Bharata to Sancha to meet Rishabha
(Taurus) every Kalpa [great cycle]. But when those of the White
Island had mixed with the Daityas (giants) of the land of iniquity,
then Nandi remained for ever in the “White Island”. “Those of the Fourth
race [Atlanteans] lost AUM [word]”. (SDII,408)
Phillip Lindsay © 2003