Earthquakes possible in USA in 2008

A study of major earthquakes in the USA in terms of period and transit influences in the SAMVA USA chart reveals that difficult astrological configurations seen in past earthquakes have a similarity to the astrological configuration taking place in the remainder of 2008, notably in the first week of July. While there are similarities, there are also salient differences. Nonetheless, the configurations seen suggest fair sized earthquakes are possible this year in the USA.

NATAL POTENTIAL
The fourth house in astrology rules fixed assets and has been found to be linked to earthquakes. Accordingly, the natal potential for earthquakes in the USA is linked to the placement of KETU in the 4th house of the SAMVA USA chart, where it is conjunct the most effective point of the house. Ketu rules sudden even violent events and hence earthquakes can be triggered by transit contacts involving Ketu. The vulnerability to the influence of Ketu is increased by the fact that 4th lord VENUS is badly placed in the 6th house of the chart. This vulnerability is increased by the afflicting aspect of to the house by RAHU, which is placed in the most effective point of the 10th house. Rahu brings the energy of crisis and manipulation. As 6th lord JUPITER is the dispositor of Venus it can also be involved in such events. Finally, 8th lord Saturn as the indicator of obstacles and endings has been found to be involved. As it afflicts natal 2nd lord Sun in the chart, Saturn's involvement brings damage or loss. It bears mentioning that given the natal strengths of the SAMVA USA chart, notably of the Sun, Moon and Mars, the affected areas have tended to recover relatively quickly from such setbacks.

I. MAJOR EARTHQUAKE
The New Madrid Earthquake, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in the contiguous United States, occurred on February 7, 1812. It got its name from its primary location in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, near New Madrid, Louisiana Territory (now Missouri). This earthquake was preceded by three other major quakes: two on December 16, 1811, and one on January 23, 1812. These earthquakes destroyed approximately half the town of New Madrid. There were also numerous aftershocks in the area for the rest of that winter. There are estimates that the earthquakes were felt strongly over 50,000 square miles (130,000 km²), and moderately across nearly one million square miles. The historic San Francisco earthquake of 1906, by comparison, was felt moderately over 6,000 square miles (16,000 km²).

ASTROLOGICAL READING:
RAHU-VENUS period. Transit RAHU in 2nd house aspected natal RAHU in 10th house, which in turn aspected transit SATURN in the 6th house. Natal KETU in 4th house aspected transit KETU in 8th house. Transit 6th lord JUPITER was badly placed in the 12th house. Natal 8th lord SATURN aspected transit 2nd lord SUN in 7th house and transit KETU in 8th house. Transit 4th lord VENUS was in 8th house.

II. MAJOR EARTHQUAKE
The San Francisco Earthquake struck at 5:12 A.M. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. It was between 7.7 and 8.3 magnitude and killed approximately 3,000 people and caused around $400 million in damage. It was the most devastating earthquake in California and U.S. history.

ASTROLOGICAL READING:
MOON-JUPITER period. Transit RAHU in 1st house aspected natal 8th lord SATURN in 5th house, which in turn aspected transit KETU in the 7th house. Natal KETU in 4th house aspected transit 8th lord SATURN in 8th house. Transit 6th lord JUPITER aspected 3rd lord MERCURY in Capricorn and 7th house. Transit 4th lord VENUS was conjunct natal RAHU in 10th house and opposite KETU in 4th house. Transit 6th lord JUPITER was in opposition aspect to 10th lord MARS in Scorpio and 5th house.

The Rahu energy of manipulation or confusion was in evidence in this crisis. It has been said that fires that broke out after the earthquake accounted for 90% of the damage to housing. While many fires were evidently started due to broken gas mains, it has long been claimed that homeowners in the city also started fires to get insurance payouts from the East coast insurance companies for their houses damaged in the quake. Evidently, the insusrance policies did not cover earthquake damage. In any event, it was primarily fires that destroyed the city and these caused great finanical damage for the insurance companies.

III. MAJOR EARTHQUAKE
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Quake, was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989 at 5:04 p.m. Caused by a slip along the San Andreas Fault, the earthquake lasted approximately 15 seconds and measured 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale (surface-wave magnitude 7.1). The quake killed 67 people throughout northern California, injured 3,757 people and left more than 12,000 people homeless.

ASTROLOGICAL READING:
KETU-VENUS period. Transit 8th lord SATURN in opposition aspect to transit 6th lord JUPITER. Natal KETU in 4th house in mutual aspect with JUPITER in 12th house. Natal RAHU aspects transit SATURN in 6th house. Transit KETU in 2nd house in wide aspect to natal SATURN. Natal SATURN in wide asepct to transit RAHU in 8th house.

The aspects between the malefics, especially to Saturn, explain the damages and injuries. The aspect of Ketu is key for the earthquake.

IV. EARTHQUAKE IN 2008
Possible fair sized earthquakes in USA in 2008. Professor Choudhry has given his view on the matter and he concurs that the transits "can cause some significant event(s) in the form of an earthquake or some other incident giving loss of assets, including in the first week of July."

ASTROLOGICAL READING: VENUS-JUPITER period. The key configuration to look out for is the aspect of transit KETU as it moves into aspect of natal 8th lord SATURN at 26° 47' Scorpio and 5th house in the chart. This aspect has now begun to be felt but it will peak on June 5th, 2008, when KETU is at 26° 46' Cancer and 1st house. More strain will be felt when KETU goes stationary at 24° 30' Cancer, even if the aspect will then be separating by over 2°. The other aspect to look out for while the KETU affliction is felt is the conjunction of transit 6th lord Jupiter and natal 4th lord Venus. This aspect peaks on July 6th.

While Jupiter will have moved off the aspect to Venus in late August and early September, other difficult aspects take place.

For instance, on September 2, 2008, natal 8th lord Saturn in the 5th house aspects transit RAHU in 7th house, which is conjunct natal 2nd lord SUN in 7th house. Transit KETU in 1st house aspects Natal SATURN in the 5th house. Natal RAHU aspects transit 8th lord Saturn and transit 2nd lord SUN in the 2nd house. Transit SATURN aspects natal KETU in 4th house. Natal RAHU and transit 6th lord JUPITER are in mutual aspect to natal RAHU in 10th house. Finally, transit 4th lord VENUS will be well placed in the 3rd house but weak in Virgo, its sign of debilitation.

There are two factors that reduce the likelihood of a major earthquake in late August or early September. First, transit 8th lord SATURN, which casts an aspect to natal KETU in the 4th house, will be rather fast moving at that time. Second, KETU in 1st house will have moved past exact aspect to natal 8th lord SATURN.

In early November, 6th lord JUPITER in the 6th house will again become conjunct natal 4th lord VENUS while also aspecting the 8th lord SATURN in the 2nd house. Natal SATURN will also aspect transit SATURN and be conjunct transit 4th lord VENUS. Moreover, transit KETU will be conjunct the most effective point of the 1st house from where it will aspect the 5th, 7th and 9th houses. Some such disturbance could therefore not be ruled out at that time.

In any event, given the ability of the SAMVA USA chart to explain past earthquakes and the similarities in the astrological configuration this year to those taking place when major earthquakes took place, it is the correct thing to draw attention to it in order for astrologers to be able to follow what happens.

References
Earthquakes - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquakes

Addendum

Strong quake shakes Southern California

9:57 p.m. ET July 29, 2008

The temblor measured 5.4 and was felt from Los Angeles to San Diego

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25918120/

Chino Hills earthquake

The 2008 Chino Hills earthquake occurred at 11:42:15 a.m. PDT (18:42:15 UTC) on July 29, 2008, in Southern California.The epicenter of the magnitude 5.5 earthquake was in Chino Hills, approximately 28 miles (45 km) east-southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Though no lives were lost during the earthquake, it caused considerable damage in numerous structures throughout the area and caused some amusement park facilities to shut down their rides.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chino_Hills_earthquake

Short lived tension ahead for investors

An analysis of the SAMVA USA chart reveals two aspects in coming weeks which may disturb investor sentiments. As these aspects pass and Mars leaves the 12th house of the chart to enter the 1st, the month of May should see a gradual improvement in market conditions.

Aspect of transit SATURN to natal MOON
The planet Saturn is transiting the sign Leo until September 10, 2009. In the Cancer rising SAMVA USA chart, the sign Aquarius, which is ruled by Saturn, falls into the eighth house. Saturn thus becomes the 8th lord of the chart. As such it rules “beliefs of the masses, red-tape, speed of execution of works, delays and obstructions, accidents, fatal accidents, epidemics, gold and precious stones, legacies, capital gains, floods, earthquakes, cyclones, storms, etc.”. Saturn generally also rules “civil servants, low technology industry and mines.”

Leo is the 2nd house in a chart with Cancer rising. When Saturn is strong and not afflicting in the chart it may bring easy gains or inheritances. In this sign, Saturn can cause stress or setbacks to 2nd house matters such as the “national wealth, status and relationships within country and with neighbors. This house also rules the purchasing power of the people, financial stability, national income, strength of currency, budget and balance of trade.”

However, for the next month (until May 15, 2008), transit Saturn is going retrograde, stationary and direct around 7° 42’ Leo and 2nd house where it will closely aspect the natal Moon at 7° 25’ Taurus and the 11th house in the SAMVA USA chart. The malefic energy of transit Saturn as 8th lord will then bring the energy of obstruction and endings to the natal Moon and what it represents in the chart.

As the Moon rules the sign Cancer, which rises in the chart, it becomes the lord of the 1st house. The first house rules the ”general conditions of the country as a whole, people and their general outlook, state of law and order, public health, government, reputation, valor and its position in the world.” Moreover, the Moon is the general indicator of “the administrator, masses, natural resources and acts as significator for the fourth and seventh houses.” As the Moon is natally placed in the 11th house, the indications of this house are important for its expression in the national life of the USA. The 11th house rules “income, gains, and future plans.” Americans therefore tend to express their “self” in the acquisition of material things and the realization of goals.

It is highly likely that the above areas ruled by the Moon will be disturbed in the national life of Americans through some event in coming weeks. Fortunately, as the Moon is very strong in the chart, the setback would be short lived. This aspect is likely to keep the stock market subdued and the dollar under strain.

Mutual aspect of transit JUPITER and transit MARS
Another aspect of note in coming weeks is the opposition aspect of transit Jupiter in Sagittuarius and transit Mars in Gemini. This aspect will become exact when the planets are at 28° Sagittarius and Gemini on April 24, 2009.

Mars is the general indicator of the “army and police“. As it rules the sign Aries, which falls in the 10th house of the SAMVA USA chart, Mars becomes the 10th lord and thus becomes the indicator of the “executive, parliament, administration, foreign trade, law and order.”

As it is transiting the 12th house it is being affected by such things as “financial losses, expenditure, mishaps, group hospitalizations, foreign debt, wars and smuggling.” A general interpretation of this placement is a loss of confidence for entrepreneurs and investors.

Jupiter is the general indicator of “diplomatic attaches, advisors to head of state, teachers, judiciary and banking systems.“ As the owner of the sign of Sagittarius, Jupiter becomes lord of the 6th house. As such it brings the energy of this house to the planets and houses it touches. The 6th house rules “public amity, relations with neighbors, general health of the public, political stability, financial solvency of the nation, litigations, judicial functioning, communal harmony in the country and labor relations.” In other words, Jupiter has to do with conflict, malfunction and (in)ability to handle debts.

During the mutual aspect of Jupiter and Mars it is likely that the confidence of investors will be hit with fresh concerns over debts, creating controversy and that the sentiments could then be expected to hit a low ebb.

Given the above two aspects, the coming few weeks are expected to produce events that are again disturbing for the stock market. This prediction is in line with an earlier prediction of more financial market volatility in 2008.

Some relief is not far off
However, a more favourable wind is also expected to soon begin to blow in May. Transit Mars will exit the 12th house and enter the 1st house of the SAMVA USA chart on April 29, 2008. This is expected to bring relief to the finanacial markets.

A few days later, on May 5th, Rahu will enter the sign Capricorn and the 7th house of the chart, while Ketu will enter Cancer and the 1st house. The passage of Rahu in Capricorn and Ketu in Cancer may create some hopes for adventure but may also cause stress in “matters of health, new business ventures, progeny matters, emotional happiness, marital affairs and income if the natal planets are weak. Success of future plans may get delayed if the natal planets are weak. Investments may cause unexpected losses.”

References
V. K. Choudhry, "Systems' Approach for Interpreting Horoscopes", Sagar Publications.
http://www.yournetastrologer.com/mundane_astrology.htm
http://www.yournetastrologer.com/saturn_and_you.htm
http://www.yournetastrologer.com/rahu_in_capricorn.htm

Timeline of challenging transits in 2008

Below are dates involving challenging transits in the SAMVA USA chart chart in 2008. The really difficult transits are highlighted in bold. For those following the financial markets, these dates may be more challenging than others. Some of these events are overlapping, indicating the energy would be even more troublesome than otherwise around those times.

The tension will be greatest around late August/early September and during the month of November.

Some of these transits have earlier been described in the December 31, 2007 article the year ahead for the USA and the December 22, 2007 article political tensions ahead.

Dates: present until April 29
Event: transit 10th lord MARS is in Gemini/H12
Meaning: strain for confidence of investors

Dates: from April 29
Event: transit MARS enters Cancer/H1
Meaning: confidence gradually returns to investors

Dates: present until May 15
Event: transit stationary 8th lord SATURN at 7° 42ʼ Leo/H2 aspecting natal 1st lord MOON at 7° 23ʼ Taurus/H11
Meaning: obstacles/endings for self, income and currency.

Dates: May 24- June 18
Event: transit KETU in Cancer/H1 aspects natal 8th lord SATURN in Scorpio/H5
Meaning: sudden problems for easy gains/inheritance or beliefs of the people

Dates: May 24- June 18
Event: transit RAHU in Capricorn/H7 under the aspect of natal 8th lord SATURN in Scorpio/H5
Meaning: obstacles/endings for salespeople, diplomats and manipulators

Dates: June 26-28
Event: 4th lord VENUS in Gemini/H12 under aspect from KETU in 4th house MEP
Meaning: sudden short lived problem concerning housing market or women

Dates: June 29-July 14
Event: transit 6th lord JUPITER in Sagittarius/H6 conjunct natal 4th lord VENUS in Sagit/H6
Meaning: concerns over mortgage debts or financial instability disrupt financial markets, conflict disturbs communal harmony, stressful time for women

Dates: July 30-August 22
Event: transit 6th lord JUPITER in Sagittarius conjunct most effective point (MEP) of 6th house
Meaning: conflict may lead to losses abroad or setbacks for wealth

Dates: July 30-September 28
Event: transit stationary RAHU is conjunct natal 2nd lord SUN in Capricorn/H7
Meaning: crisis involving misuse of funds in foreign policy or for friendly regimes, difficult time for US President

Dates: July 30-September 28
Event: transit stationary KETU is opposition aspect to natal 2nd lord SUN in Capricorn/H7
Meaning: sudden or violent event possible

Dates: August 26-September 10
Event: transit 8th lord SATURN in Leo/H2 under close aspect from natal RAHU in Aries/H10
Meaning: crisis involving misuse of easy gains, beliefs or wealth

Dates: August 27-September 20
Event: transit 6th lord JUPITER stationary in Sagittarius/H6 under aspect from natal RAHU in Aries/H10
Meaning: crisis involving financial stability or political opposition

Dates: August 28-September 18
Event: transit 6th lord JUPITER in Sagittarius/H6 in aspect to transit 8th lord SATURN in Leo/H2
Meaning: violence, possibly involving easy gains or beliefs of the people

Dates: September 2-5
Event: transit 2nd lord Sun conjunct transit 8th lord Saturn in Leo/H2
Meaning: obstacles/endings involving wealth or leader of the country

Dates: September 2-5
Event: transit 2nd lord Sun under aspect from natal Rahu in Aries/H10
Meaning: crisis involving manipulation in area of wealth, status and leader of the country

Dates: September 2-5
Event: transit 2nd lord Sun under aspect from transit 6th lord Jupiter in Sagittarius/H6
Meaning: conflict concerning wealth, status or leader of the country

Dates: September 25-October 19
Event: transit 6th lord JUPITER in Sagittarius conjunct MEP of 6th house
Meaning: conflict may lead to losses abroad or setbacks for wealth

Dates: October 29-November 13
Event: transit RAHU conjunct the MEP of 7th house and transit KETU conjunct MEP of 1st house
Meaning: problems for self and foreign policy

Dates: November 1-13
Event: transit 6th lord JUPITER in Sagittarius/H6 conjunct natal 4th lord VENUS in Sagit/H6
Meaning: concerns over mortgage debts or financial instability disrupt financial markets, conflict disturbs communal harmony, stressful time for women

Dates: November 14-29
Event: transit 6th lord JUPITER in Sagittarius/H6 in aspect to transit 8th lord Saturn in Leo/H2
Meaning: violence, possibly involving easy gains or beliefs of people. Disturbance to financial markets.

Dates: November 14, 2008-February 19, 2009
Event: transit stationary 8th lord SATURN in Leo/H2 under aspect from natal SATURN in Scorpio/H5
Meaning: obstacles/ending or violence involving easy gains or beliefs of the people. Setback to the wealth.

Dates: December 11-13
Event: transit 2nd lord SUN conjunct natal 8th lord SATURN
Meaning: obstacles/endings, possibly involving the wealth or leader of the country

Dates: December 13-15
Event: transit 10th lord MARS conjunct natal 8th lord SATURN
Meaning: obstacles/endings, possibly involving the military or government of the country

The end of greatness

In astrology, the Sun carries the energy of vitality, organisation and authority. It is also the indicator of greatness. In mundane astrology the Sun represents the leader of the country and its power in the world.

In the SAMVA USA chart the placement of the Sun reveals many interesting things about the USA and its destiny. as it is placed in the 7th house of foreign affairs we find the reason why US leadership in the world comes so naturally. Mercury, as 3rd lord of commerce and initiative, is also placed in the 7th house, adding to desire for global leadership. As the Sun aspects the 1st house of self, the USA has a more powerful identity than most countries.

But there is a dark side to this placement. The Sun receives the aspect of Saturn which is the 8th lord of obstacles and endings in the chart. The 8th lord brings with it the karmic destiny of separation, creating pain in our lives. Through this placement we can see the numerous assassination attempts on the lives of US presidents, with four having succeeded to date. At the same time, as the 8th lord rules inheritance and easy gains, explaining the tremendous wealth accruing to the country, including its “inheritance” of vast lands in the north American continent.
Embedded in the tragedy is also the seed of hope. It is true, the chief purpose of the 8th lord is to end things. Certainly, all things must and will pass. Endings in life also cause us pain, the pain of separation. The great masters knew that death is the most potent motivator for spiritual growth in life - it shatters the bond of attachment!
On the other hand, it is greatness that arouses our admiration. It is human to desire to unite with that which we perceive as great - to form a bond of attachment. Greatness is thus the true basis of love. The yogis have also long understood that this play of love and bereavement ultimately leads us to an understanding of God. Such a dynamic is amply seen in the SAMVA USA chart. The tragedy seen in the natal affliction of 8th lord Saturn to 2nd lord Sun involves the ending of something that is greatly admired.
Due to this natal affliction, during the Saturn major period and Sun sub-period from April 1, 1963 to March 13, 1964, the main result was that President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated on November 22, 1963 when transit 8th lord Saturn was exactly conjunct natal Sun. A young handsome and inspiring leader was snatched from our lives. The event deprived the country of hope, but somehow hope survived and the impulse only grew stronger.
If if we look more closely at the meaning of the Sun in the SAMVA USA chart, (see table) we notice many positive things, which explain why the two previous Sun dasas (major periods) have been accompanied by generally favourable results for the USA.

During the SUN DASA in the 1st dasa cycle which ran from April 9 1776 to April 10 1782 the main results were as follows:

* The states agree on a principle of Westward expansion on January 2, 1781 (8th lord aspects 2nd lord).
* Formation of the country on February 2, 1781 (Sun).
* The US army deafeats Cornwallis in September 1781 effectively ending the American Revolutionary War (Sun).
* The new nation increases its control over vast unsettled territories (8th lord aspects 2nd lord).

During the SUN dasa in the 2nd dasa cycle which ran from April 9 1896 to April 10 1902, the main results were as follows:

* Territorial expansion (aspect of 8th lord on 2nd lord) with Hawaii annexed and Utah becoming a state.
* Treaty of Paris in 1898 gives the United States ownership of the former Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Guam .
* Discovery of gold in Klondike in 1896.
* Passage of the Gold Standard Act in 1900 ending a period of bimetallism which resulted in a debasement of the currency (strong Sun).
* The assassination of President William McKinley, Jr. on September 14, 1901 (8th lord aspect on Sun).
* USA becomes a power broker in China (influence of Sun on 7th house).

In the third SUN dasa in the 3rd dasa cycle, which runs from April 9 2016 to April 10 2022, we can expect the extension of the territory, the increased authority of the USA abroad, in short, the return of the might of the country. At the same time, we can expect that some tragedy may strike which will deprive the country of something it loves, impelling the collective consciousness to move ever higher.
"Always the path of American destiny has been into the unknown. Always there arose enough reserves of strength, balances of sanity, portions of wisdom to carry the nation through to a fresh start with ever-reaching vitality."
- Carl Sandburg, speaking at the 96th (1959) Anniversary of Lincoln's Address at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1863


THE END (purpose) OF GREATNESS is to impel us to better understand the loving God.

Astrology can predict booms & busts

Mathematical models of human behavior, like models of the economy, cannot predict what is essential to our human condition, the role of volatile feelings. In history, periods of even progress have been interrupted by episodes characterised by fear or euphoria. Astrology can fill this gap in our understanding and explain and predict such espisodes.

Alan Greenspan has said the following:

"I do not say that the current systems of risk management or econometric forecasting are not in large measure soundly rooted in the real world...But these models do not fully capture what I believe has been, to date...the innate human responses that result in swings between euphoria and fear that repeat themselves generation after generation with little evidence of a learning curve. Asset-price bubbles build and burst today as they have since the early 18th century, when modern competitive markets evolved. To be sure, we tend to label such behavioural responses as non-rational. But forecasters’ concerns should be not whether human response is rational or irrational, only that it is observable and systematic. This, to me, is the large missing “explanatory variable” in both risk-management and macroeconometric models. Current practice is to introduce notions of “animal spirits”, as John Maynard Keynes put it, through “add factors”. That is, we arbitrarily change the outcome of our model’s equations. Add-factoring, however, is an implicit recognition that models, as we currently employ them, are structurally deficient; it does not sufficiently address the problem of the missing variable." [1]

In other words, Greenspan is saying that there is something the scientific and systematic models fail to incorporate and it has to do with how human beings act or react. In this regard, he mentions a "missing variable", but does not propose what that variable may be. However, he says that it is "systematic and observable" in the economic and financial history of the world.

This is where astrology comes in. A major role of scientific mundane astrology, like the Systems' Approach, is to accurately predict the nature and timing of developments and to show when a beneficial/adverse time is likely to take place that either stimulates/disturbs people and changes their behavior. Scientific astrology has a fundamental role to play in the prediction of the future and can thereby help to complete the incomplete economic and financial models of today, including models that are used to better manage risk. Indeed, a critical role of astrology is to warn people to be careful when the times become fraught with risk and danger of losses as we are now witnessing.

Based on the SAMVA USA chart, many accurate predictions about the economy and financial markets have been made, including a prediction for financial market volatility in 2008.

References
1) Alan Greenspan, "We will never have a perfect model of risk", Financial Times, March 16 2008. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/edbdbcf6-f360-11dc-b6bc-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1