I HAVE A DREAM

The fight for equal rights of all sections of society has been a ceaseless struggle in the national life of the USA. This feature of the national experience is reflected perfectly in the SAMVA USA chart in terms of the natal potential in the horoscope but also in terms of the planetary periods operating and the transit influences involved in the timing of the significant events, both good and bad.

The origins of communal discord may be traced back to the colonial culture of slavery in the 17th century. After the magnanimous founding of the United States, many felt it increasingly hard to reconcile the evil practice of slavery against the God-given rights of all men enshrined in the US Constitution. From the middle of the 19th century, there began a steady push to abolish this cruel and unjust practice in the USA, leading to the Civil War in 1861-1865. The next big push forward was the civil rights movement of the 20th century. Most recently, the issue of race relations has been reflected in the election of a man of African American descent to the position of US President. The following astrological analysis shows the capacity of the SAMVA USA chart to accurately reflect this complex social dynamic.

A brief history of race relations in the USA
Slavery in the United States had its origins with the first English colonization of North America in Virginia in 1607, although African slaves were brought to Spanish Florida as early as the 1560s. Slavery lasted as a legal institution in the U.S. until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1865.[1] Civil War broke out due to the irreconcilable differences of Northern and Southern states on the slavery issue. Following the war, former slaves in the South were given political authority by the Northern political establishment during the Reconstruction. This eventually caused a backlash in the South and the "nadir of American race relations" is a phrase referring to the period in United States history from the end of Reconstruction to the beginning of the 20th Century, when racism was deemed to be worse than in any other post-bellum period. During this period, African Americans lost many civil rights gains made during Reconstruction. Anti-black violence, lynchings, segregation, legal racial discrimination, and expressions of white supremacy increased.[2] Typical of mass racial violence in the United States were the numerous public spectacles where nearly 5,000 black Americans were murdered by white American lynch mobs between 1890 and 1960. [3] The African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968) refers to the reform movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring Suffrage in Southern states. By 1966, the emergence of the Black Power Movement, which lasted roughly from 1966 to 1975, enlarged the aims of the Civil Rights Movement to include racial dignity, economic and political self-sufficiency, and freedom from oppression by whites.[4] In the second half of the 20th century, a white supremacist movement re-emerged based on the belief of some white people that they are superior to people of other racial backgrounds.[5]

The astrology of communal strife
The prime influence is the bad placement of VENUS, as 4th lord of communal harmony, in the 6th house of conflict. This placement suggests the communal harmony is beset by conflict. This tendency becomes aggravated by the placement of functional malefic planet KETU in conjunction with the most effective point of the 4th house. This afflicting aspect adds a separative quality to the sense of community. The FM planet RAHU also aspects and thus afflicts the 6th house of conflict, where the 4th lord is placed. This influence adds potential for crisis with regard to the issue of conflict. Indeed, the Civil War was a major crisis intended to expunge slavery from the national life, at the risk of tearing apart the country. Moreover, JUPITER, as 6th lord of conflict, is placed in the 5th house of creativity, from where it aspects the MOON as 1st lord of self, itself placed in the 11th house of hopes and ideals. This adds a quality of fixity or persistence to the self-image of the Americans and their goals. The US participation in WW II and Cold War is a testimony to their ideals to stamp out "wrong" in the world, i.e. the Nazis in WW II and Commies in the Cold War. Adding to this we can note the aspect of SATURN as 8th lord of obstacles and endings in the 5th house to the SUN as 2nd lord of wealth and status, as well as the leader of the country. This aspect adds obstacles and endings to the wealth and status of the country as well as its leader . More so as KETU also afflicts the 8th house and RAHU afflicts the 2nd house. The chart speaks of significant challenges for the communal harmony and crisis related to its attainment through resolving injustices.

"I have a Dream"
One of the most significant events in the civil rights campaign of the 20th century occurred in the summer of 1963, when the leaders of the African American community organised a mass march on Washington to press their demands for civil rights legislation. This would have placed some strain on the young President, John F Kennedy and his administration. The day is now remembered as one of the finest expressions of the hopes and wishes of the African American community.

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a large political rally that took place in Washington , D.C. on August 28, 1963. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech advocating racial harmony at the Lincoln Memorial during the march. The speech is considered to have altered the consciousness of the white community and the world with regard to segregation and unequal treatment of non-white races.

"There, he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history."[6]

King delivered his historic speech at around 5.00 pm.

"The size of the crowd -- which swelled to an estimated 250,000 -- led television networks to shift gears and show the march live. At 2 p.m., A. Philip Randolph, delivered the first speech. King began his stirring oration about three hours later."[7]

The march is widely credited as helping to pass the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the National Voting Rights Act (1965).[8]

Astrology of the event
As the horoscope above shows, at this time, the SATURN-SUN period was operating. Transit SUN was strong and well placed at 11° Leo and 2nd house in exact conjunction with the 4th lord VENUS. The day is remembered for its good feeling and authoritative expression of the desires of these peoples for equality. Such influences of fast moving planets has earlier been described in another article.[9] At the same time, the FMs in the chart were massively afflicting during the latter part of the summer and into the Autumn. Transit 8th lord SATURN was stationary conjunct the natal 2nd lord Sun. This aspect led to the assassination of President John F Kennedy on November 22, 1963. In late August, SATURN was also aspecting transit 6th lord Jupiter in the 9th house, suggestive of violence. However, while King had been hounded by violence earlier in the Spring, the negative energy was expressed with non-violent determination, based on Gandhi's philosophy of peaceful resistance. Transit KETU was conjunct natal 4th lord VENUS and transit RAHU was in the 12th house, further bringing out the energy of the separation and non-acceptance of blacks by the white community. 3rd lord Mercury, 10th lord MARS and 1st lord MOON were all well placed, but MARS and MOON were afflicted in transit.

.

Passing of the Civil Rights Act

When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Bill into law on July 2, 1964 he prefaced it with remarks that were broadcast from the White House at 6:45 p.m. that evening.

"My fellow Americans: I am about to sign into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I want to take this occasion to talk to you about what that law means to every American....My fellow citizens, we have come now to a time of testing. We must not fail. Let us close the springs of racial poison. Let us pray for wise and understanding hearts. Let us lay aside irrelevant differences and make our Nation whole. Let us hasten that day when our unmeasured strength and our unbounded spirit will be free to do the great works ordained for this Nation by the just and wise God who is the Father of us all. Thank you and good night. [10]

In other words, Johnson appealed for his country men to close the racial divide.

Legend has it that as he put down his pen Johnson told an aide, referring to the Democratic Party:

.

"We have lost the South for a generation." [11]

Astrology of the event

As in the Civil War, there were conflicting views on this piece of major legislation, which altered race relations in the country dramatically. The transits in the SAMVA USA chart at that time bespeak of the following dynamic:

SATURN-MOON period was operating. The sub-period lord, transit 1st lord MOON, was at 18° 56' Pisces and thus conjunct the most effective point (MEP) of the 9th house and aspecting the 3rd house. This suggests a moment where the American's sense of self was at its most altruistic. Transit 2nd lord SUN was at 17° 40's Gemini and 12th house under exact aspect from natal KETU, which afflicts the 4th house. The President felt strongly the ongoing influences of racial tensions at the signing, and hence his reported comment about the loss (12th house issue) of political support in the South. With transit 3rd lord MERCURY at 24° 25' Gemini in 12th house, it was in mutual aspect with the natal 4th lord VENUS at 23° 50' Sagittarius in the 6th house. The lord of initiative had been brought to fruition to ensure the civil rights of all, thus reducing the future tensions. Transit 6th lord JUPITER at 24° 58' Aries and 10th house was aspecting natal 4th lord VENUS in the 6th house. The issue of conflict over communal harmony was being altered with new laws and changes to the government administration (10th house issue). Transit MARS as 10th lord of laws was at 17° 34' Taurus and thus conjunct the MEP of the 11th house of ideals and aspecting the 5th house of children, suggests the law and administration influenced the ideals and off-spring of the country. Last but not least, transit 4th lord VENUS was at 28° 26' Taurus in the 11th house where it was in mutual aspect to 8th lord SATURN at 26° 46' Scorpio and 5th house. While the 8th house and lord rule over obstacles and endings, they also endow legitimacy. Accordingly, the law altered the 'legitimacy' of race relations in the country and thus the basis of communal harmony itself.

Death of a civil rights leader
Recently, the US politician Edward Kennedy died. He was a national leader in the fight for civil rights in the USA and most recently for a national health care system. He was also a backer of President Obama.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy dies at 77
Globe - August 26, 2009
Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who carried aloft the torch of a Massachusetts dynasty and championed a liberal ideology during almost a half century in the Senate, but whose personal and political failings may have prevented him from realizing the ultimate prize of the presidency, died Tuesday night at his home in Hyannis Port. He was 77 and had been battling brain cancer.[12]

Astrology of the event

At the time of his death transit 4th lord VENUS (communal harmony) was exactly conjunct transit KETU (separation) under afflicting aspect from natal 6th lord JUPITER (health) in the SAMVA USA chart. Meanwhile, transit JUPITER (powerful men) was exactly afflicted by natal 8th lord SATURN (obstacles and endings). Transit 3rd lord MERCURY (communication) was in 3rd house under close aspect of transit RAHU (cancer disease) in the 7th house. A voice for reform fell silent due to a terminal illness.

The SAMVA USA chart captures these and many more significant events relating to this dynamic in American national life vividly.

References
[1] Slavery in colonial America
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_United_States
[2] The "Nadir" of US race relations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadir_of_American_race_relations
[3] Events of mass racial violence in the USA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_racial_violence_in_the_United_States
[4] US civil rights movement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Civil_Rights_Movement_(1955%E2%80%931968)
[5]White supremacy as a social movement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Supremacy
[6] Martin Luther King
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.
[7] Speech given at 5.00 pm
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/march40th/part2.html
[8] March on Washington
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_on_Washington_for_Jobs_and_Freedom

[9] Impact of fast moving planets
http://cosmologer.blogspot.com/2009/05/impact-of-fast-moving-planets.html

[10] Civil Rights Act signing, remarks by President Johnson

http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson/archives.hom/speeches.hom/640702.asp

[11] "We have lost the South for a generation"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964
[12]Senator Kennedy dies
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/08/statement_from_24.html

Houston, we've had a problem!

One significant event yet to be examined in terms of the SAMVA USA chart is the famous and near disastrous space flight of Apollo 13. During the five day flight, the lives of the three crew members came close to ending but were narrowly saved through intense efforts and human ingenuity by the crew themselves and the determined ground personnel. This event gripped the attention of the American people and was later the subject of a famous movie by the same name.

Apollo 13 was the third manned mission by NASA which was intended to land on the moon, but a mid-mission technical malfunction forced the lunar landing to be aborted. The crew members were Commander James A. Lovell, command module pilot John L. "Jack" Swigert, and lunar module pilot Fred W. Haise. The Mission duration was 5 days, 22 hours, 54 minutes and 41 seconds.

The mission launched on April 11, 1970 at 19:13:00 UTC (13:13 CST) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Two days later, at 03:07:53 UTC on April 14, while the mission was en route to the moon and 321,860 km away from Earth, a fault in the electrical system of one of the Service Module's oxygen tanks produced an explosion which caused a loss of electrical power and failure of both oxygen tanks. The command module remained functional on its own batteries and oxygen tank, which were only designed to support the vehicle during the last hours of flight. The crew shut down the Command Module and used the Lunar Module as a "lifeboat" during the return trip to earth.

The closest approach to Moon took place at 00:21:00 UTC on April 15, when the craft came within 254.3 km of the Moon, which is possibly a record. Despite great hardship caused by limited power, loss of cabin heat, and a shortage of potable water, the crew returned safely to Earth, and the mission was termed a "successful failure."

A radio transmission by Lovell, " Houston , we've had a problem", has become widely misquoted in popular culture as, " Houston , we have a problem".[1]

Apollo 13 splashed down in the Pacific ocean (21°38′24″S 165°21′42″W) at 18:07:41 UTC on April 17, 1970. 

Astrology of the mission
The Saturn-Jupiter period was operating and the transit afflictions at the time of launch were numerous and significant.

- Natal Ketu in the 4th house in mutual aspect to transit Rahu in the 8th house
- Transit Ketu in the 2nd house in mutual afflicting aspect with natal Rahu in the 10th house.
As Ketu rules sudden explosions and Rahu rules gas, this is clearly one outcome consistent with these close transit-to-natal contacts
- Natal Rahu was conjunct transit Saturn, Mercury and Venus, with these planets also afflicted by transit Ketu in the 2nd house. In particular, transit 8th lord Saturn was in applying aspects during the crisis. The sudden onset of a life threatening crisis was the result.
- Natal 6th lord Jupiter in the 5th house was afflicting transit 10th lord Mars in 11th house, suggesting a technical malfunction.

The many afflictions involving the FM planets natally or in transit at this time signify the danger for the crew and the resulting tension felt by Americans. The experience was also felt by people around the world, who witnessed the events as they transpired through the almost instantaneous global communication already in 1970.

As has been pointed out in other articles, the strong 10th lord Mars in the sign of Scorpio and in the 5th house of the SAMVA USA chart, under aspect from an exalted 1st lord Moon in the 11th house, explains the enormous fame of the country associated with achievements relying on technical know-how and courage. This is more so as Saturn, the 8th lord of obstacles and endings, aspects the Sun as 2nd lord of status in the chart. This aspect signifies that status is earned through “death-defying acts”. As a result, we see transit or natal Saturn and Mars prominently involved at times of great achievement, risk or tragedy involving such undertakings.

In sum, at the time of the launch on April 11, transit 10th lord Mars was infant in the sign of Taurus and hence weak in transit. At the time of the tank rupture on April 14, Mars was closely afflicted by natal 6th lord Jupiter, the sub period lord.

At the time of the successful splashdown on April 17, Mars had moved beyond the exact affliction of Jupiter and had become strong in transit. Moreover, transit Mercury and Venus had also become strong in transit at the time of the splashdown, suggesting the relief and pervasive joy that the crew had cheated death.

References
The Apollo 13 mission
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_13

Retro-stationary-direct Mercury

Due to it having an orbit around the Sun that lies within the orbit of Earth, the fast moving planet Mercury is seen from Earth to enter into retrograde motion in the skies about three times every year. For many, this period signifies a time when the indications of Mercury may encounter some problem. According to the Systems’ Approach (SA), this is not necessarily so and more attention is paid to the stationary motion on a given degree, when Mercury comes to a temporary halt in transit and has a relatively prolonged influence. Before we explore this issue, let us first examine this planet and its astrological meaning.

Planetary characteristics
Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 88 days. It has an equatorial radius of 2,440 km. While it is larger than the Moon (1,738 km), Mercury is smaller than Ganymede the largest moon of Jupiter and Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. Mercury is bright when viewed from Earth, but is not easily seen as its greatest angular separation from the Sun is only 28.3°. Since Mercury is normally lost in the glare of the Sun, unless there is a solar eclipse, Mercury can only be viewed in morning or evening twilight.[1] Mercury is similar in appearance to the Moon: it is heavily cratered with regions of smooth plains, has no natural satellites and no substantial atmosphere. However, unlike the moon, it has a large iron core, which generates a magnetic field about 1% as strong as that of the Earth. It is an exceptionally dense planet due to the large relative size of its core. Surface temperatures range from about −183 °C to 427 °C ( −297 °F to 801 °F).

Mythological origin
Mercury is the Roman god of communication, transporation, social intercourse and commerce. the origin of Mercurius (the Latin name) is in the Greek legend of Hermes, who was a great Olympian God. Before Hermes there was also Thoth, an Egyptian god of wisdom and sciences.[2] The Norse god Odin is also linked to Mercury. Woden’s day (Wedenesday) is known as Mercredi (Day of Mercury) in French.[3] Hermes was considered the god of animal husbandry, roads, travel, hospitality, heralds, diplomacy, trade, thievery, language, writing, persuasion, cunning wiles, athletic contests, gymnasiums, astronomy, and astrology. He was also the personal agent and herald of Zeus, the king of the gods. Hermes was depicted as either a handsome and athletic, beardless youth, or as an older bearded man. His attributes included the herald's wand or kerykeion (Latin caduceus), winged boots, and sometimes a winged travellers cap and chlamys cloak.[4]

Systems’ Approach meaning
In SA, careful consideration is given to the accurate interpretation of the astrological meaning of the planets. Mercury is considered to rule "the analytical faculties, speech, sharp intellect, power of discrimmination and confidence. It is personified as a prince, thinker, mathematician, accountant, trader and related business fields. He is a mixture of three humours, namely phlegm, bile and wind. He rules skin, mind, nervous system, lungs, tounge, hands and mouth. When weak and or afflicted it causes psychic diseases, nervous breakdown, leucoderma, impotence, vertigo, deafness, asthma and diseases of the respirotory canal, intestines and insomnia, etc.”[5]

Who is affected by the transit station?
The normal duration of a Mercury station is a week to 10 days. During this period persons or nations with horoscopes that have the most effective points (rising degree with +/- 5° orb) or planets in this degree or in the same degree in Pisces, will feel its influence more closely. Persons or nations with Aries, Aquarius or Libra rising will experience this transit station as a strain, as Mercury becomes a functional malefic planet in these cases. This is because the Moolatrikona sign that Mercury rules, Virgo, then falls into respectively the 6th house of conflict, health or financial strain, the 8th house of obstacles and endings, or the 12th house of losses and remote places. During such transits, the above ascendants may have increased strain or even setbacks with respect to the relevant indications if Mercury is afflicting weak and afflicted placements or is in a mutual affliction with a natal functional malefic planet in the horoscope. For all other ascendants, Mercury is a functional benefic planet as it then either rules the 1st house of self and fame, 2nd house of wealth, status and family, 3rd house of enterprise and courage, 4th house of fixed assets, mental stability and mother, 5th house of children, creativity and romance, 7th house of spouse and short foreign trips, 9th house of fortune and father, 10th house of career or 11th house of income, friends and goals. In other words, persons or nations with Virgo, Leo, Cancer, Gemini, Taurus, Pisces, Capricorn, Sagittarius and Scorpio rising will experience the transit stations of Mercury favourably as per the relevant indications. The only exception for these ascendants is if Mercury is involved in aspects from natal functional malefic planet(s) in the natal chart. In this case, the relevant indications would be come under strain during the close transit contact.

Forthcoming stations of Mercury
Peak: 2-12 September: 11°-12°-11° Virgo
Trough: 25 September - 5 October: 29°-28°-29° Leo
Peak: 22-30 December: 26°-28°-26° Sagittarius
Trough: 11-20 January: 13°-12°-13° Sagittarius

In early September 2009, Mercury will slow down and become stationary direct at 12° Virgo on September 7 and remain close to this degree until September 12. During this time those with 12° rising or planets at 12° Virgo or Pisces will feel the influence for better or worse. After the station in the 2nd week of September, Mercury will then move backwards until September 30 when it again goes stationary direct, after which it enters forward motion. Mercury will again in late 2009 and early 2010 enter its relatively brief stationary periods.

Summary
It is not the retrograde motion of Mercury but its stationary period that may produce difficulty. This is especially so for those with Aries, Libra or Aquarius rising, where Mercury becomes a functional malefic planet. But problems may also be seen for those with other rising signs if the stationary Mercury is afflicted through natal or transit placements.

References

[1] Mercury's Orbit and Phases, by David McCann

http://www.skyscript.co.uk/mercuryorbit.html

[2] Mercury – Wikipedia entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(planet)
[3] About Thoth
http://www.hermes-press.com/Perennial_Tradition/PTch6.htm
[4] The Mythological origins of Hermes
http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Hermes.html
[5] Application of Prasna Astrology (Based on the Systems’ Approach) by Prof. V.K. Choudhry and K. Rajesh Chaudhary, Sagar Publications, 2002.
http://www.yournetastrologer.com/astrology_books_home.htm

Global trend changes in late 2009

In years when the slow moving planets all change signs, as they will do in the last few months of 2009, we can expect major trend changes in the world. Below, the trends resulting from the entry of Saturn, Rahu, Ketu and Jupiter into different signs in the sideral zodiac are described as per the Systems' Approach to Mundane Vedic Astrology. Interestingly, the analysis suggests an emphasis on positive changes in the ways ordinary people live and think.

Increased skill in employment
SATURN enters the sign VIRGO on September 10, 2009. It will remain there until November 16, 2011, when it enters the sign of Libra. During its passage through the sign of Virgo, the indications of Saturn, which include working people, old people, ancient things, cold or thick things, substances mined from the ground, heavy structures and traditonal industry will be influenced by things associated with this sign. Virgo is linked to information, analysis, discrimmination, communication, process control, functional efficiency, reaping, service and health. This combination may be interpreted such that traditional activities, ordinary employment and health services may gain at this time from increased emphasis on the use of information technology, communication, process analysis and efficiency. Employment in such activities may pick up.

More ethics in murkier areas of life
RAHU enters the sign SAGITTARIUS on November 3, 2009. It will remain there until May 4, 2011 when it enters the sign of Scorpio. During its passage through the sign of Sagittarius, the indications of Rahu, such as diplomacy, wine and drug making, sales and activities dominated by material gain, shady dealings and crises will be influenced by the indications of this sign. Sagittarius is linked to guidance, training, organisation, financing, religion/spirituality, progress, optimism, cleansing and growth. The combination of these energies suggest that diplomacy, sales, wine making and traditional shady things will search for increased purpose through the application of more ethical rules, training and progressive approach to management, resulting in more positive solutions. Failures in this regard, will be associated with crisis and strain.

Interest in out of the way things
KETU enters the sign GEMINI on November 3, 2009. It will remain there until May 4, 2011, when it enters the sign of Taurus. During its passage through the sign of Gemini, the indications of Ketu, such as spirituality, change in outlook, separation, isolation, estrangement, seeking, mental health and sudden and violent events will be influenced by the indications of this sign. The sign Gemini is linked to analysis, description, communication, interaction, invention, energy, variety and change. The combination of these things could bring an emphasis on improving the understanding of Ketu type activities, such as movies or books about spiritual seekers or far awy places, increased interest in travel to places considered of ascetic nature or even the remote reaches of space. There could also be suddent and violent events linked to such activites or things.

More meaning in daily life
JUPITER enters the sign AQUARIUS on December 20, 2009. It will remain there until May 3, 2010, when it enters the sign of Pisces. During its passage through the sign of Aquarius, the indications of Jupiter, such as spirituality, the church, growth, guidance, planning, optimism, banking systems, important people, church leaders, captains of industry, judges, advisors to head of state, diplomatic attaches, teachers, children will be influenced by the indications of this sign. The sign Aquarius has to do with ideals, objectives, honesty, sensitivity, action, industry and leadership of non-affluent sections of society. There should be an infusion of honesty and the needs of ordinary people to the indications of Jupiter. At the same time, leadership of non-afflucent sections of society could turn more spiritual.

In the horoscopes of countries where Saturn and Jupiter are functional malefic planets due to their rulership of either the 6th, 8th or 12th houses, their placements may bring problems linked to the above indications, especially if they aspect the most effective point of a house or other planets.

Summary
In general terms, after years of focus on big business, high finance and political controversy, the energy of the above transits suggest there is going to be some shift of awareness towards the grass roots or the meaning and enjoyment of life by ordinary people. To some extent, the above noted trends will also be in synch with the developments in the USA as suggested by the Venus-Saturn period operating in the SAMVA USA chart.

Tornado!

A national horoscope should reveal a clear pattern when it comes to major natural disasters, even if regional. A look at some of the deadliest tornados in US history, confirms the veracity of the SAMVA USA chart.

Venus is the general indicator of weather in a mundane chart. In the SAMVA USA chart it is weak through bad placement in the 6th house. Meanwhile, its own house, the 4th house, is afflicted by the functional malefic Ketu, the indicator of violent and suddent events. Moreover, its house of placement is afflicted by the FM Rahu, the lord of storms. As such the predisposition to storms is seen in the natal chart. However, more is needed, including the appropriate period and transit influences. In this regard we could keep in mind that pronounced transit influences always take precedence over period influences. As such, the transits of functional malefic planets are important to explain the outbreak of such violent events. Below we examine two such events, to demonstrate.

1. The 1925 Tri-State tornado
The 1925 Tri-State tornado, the deadliest tornado in US history, happened in the afternoon of Wednesday, March 18, 1925. It crossed from southeastern Missouri, through Southern Illinois, then into southwestern Indiana, and was the deadliest tornado in U.S. history. During 3.5 hours, 695 fatalities were confirmed from the largest tornado and over 50 additional fatalities, the tornado killed more than twice as many as the second deadliest, the 1840 Great Natchez Tornado. Around 2,300 injuries were reported and close to $2 billion in property damages (todays prices). The continuous ≥219 mile (≥352 km) track left by the tornado was the longest ever recorded in the world. The outbreak in total involved the states of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Kansas, possibly other states. While not officially rated by NOAA, it is recognized by many as an F5 tornado, the maximal damage rating issued on the Fujita scale.[1]

Astrology of the event
The Rahu-Saturn period was operating in the SAMVA USA chart. We know that periods of dual malefics are typically more difficult. Both these planets are also afflicting in the chart. The planet Saturn as 8th lord of obstacles and endings and the acting sub-period lord was in transit at 20° 59' Libra and as such conjunct the MEP of the 4th house of real estate, while aspecting also the 6th house of malfunction, 10th house of public administration and 1st house of self, transit Rahu at 20° 01' Cancer/H1, natal Ketu at 17° 47' Libra as well as transit Moon as 1st lord at 20° 06' Sagittarius and 6th house and 6th lord Jupiter at 25° 38' Sagittarius in the 6th house and natal 4th lord Venus at 23° 50' Sagittarius in the 6th house. We should note that Venus was thus dual afflicted, while transit Venus was badly placed in the 8th house of obstacles and endings. The nodes were also exactly afflicting all the odd numbered houses and transit debilitated 3rd lord Mercury at 17° Pisces in the 9th house. Natal Jupiter was also afflicting transit Sun and transit Mars. In short, the period lords were both first rate malefics, all the planets were afflicted or afflicting and some were badly placed in transit while most of the houses were afflicted. No wonder that a major devastating natural disaster took place in the USA at that time.

2. The 1999 Oklahoma tornado
The 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak killed around 50 people and caused around $2 billion in property damage. The tornado outbreak was a severe weather event that lasted for over 72 hours, from May 3 until May 6, 1999. Violent storms broke out in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee. In total 140 tornados were reported, with the most violent touching down on May 3 in southwest of Chickasha, Oklahoma, and becoming an F5 before dissipating over Midwest City, Oklahoma. The tornado tore through Bridge Creek, Oklahoma and Moore, Oklahoma, causing close to $2.0 billion in damage (todays prices). Forty-eight people perished during the outbreak. This tornadic event ranks in severity with the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1965. With a total of 66 tornadoes, it was the most prolific tornado outbreak in Oklahoma history, although not the deadliest. At 318 mph, the tornado is the fastest tornado ever recorded.[2]

Astrology of the event
The Venus-Venus period was running in the SAMVA USA chart. We may recall that Venus is a major indicator of weather, in that it rules comforts. In the early evening hours of May 3, 1999 when the tornado broke out transit 4th lord Venus was in infancy and bad placement at 0° Gemini and 12th house of losses and hence weak to protect its indications. Natally, Venus is also weak in the SAMVA USA chart and its MT house and house of placement are afflicted. This weakness and affliction involving Venus and the 4th lord, explains why the USA has a history of and predisposition to natural catastrophes, including destructive weather and earthquakes. However, this placement, natally and in transit, is not sufficient to explain such an outcome. The influence of the functional malefic planets, Rahu, Ketu, 8th lord Saturn and 6th lord Jupiter is needed to generate violent events, which result in fatalities, injuries and property damage as well as bringing tremendous disruption to large areas of the country.

On these days, aspects involving the FMs in the SAMVA USA chart were there in abundance. Transit Ketu at 23° 51' Capricorn in the 7th house was exactly conjunct natal 2nd lord Sun. Transit Rahu at 23° 51' Cancer and 1st house was opposing the Sun but also casting an aspect to transit Jupiter at 25° Pisces and 9th house and natal Saturn at 26° 46' Scorpio and 5th house. Transit Jupiter was also closely afflicting natal Saturn and also a transit debilitated 3rd lord Mercury at 27° 45' Pisces and 9th house. Moreover, when the tornado broke out on that day, transit 1st lord Moon passed over natal Saturn and transit 2nd lord Sun at 19° 12' Aries and 10th house was conjunct natal Rahu at 17° 47' Aries.

As in other such studies, these events show up clearly in the SAMVA USA chart. However, accurate predictions, including on weather phenomena, are the most important when demonstrating the veracity of the chart.

References
[1] 1925 Tri-State tornado
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_Tri-State_tornado
[2] 1999 Oklahoma tornado
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_Oklahoma_tornado_outbreak

TENSE AUTUMN AHEAD

We live in interesting times and this autumn will be no exception. The coming transit station of Jupiter at 23° 10’ Capricorn will be interesting for the fact that it will connect into the charts of many important countries, including the USA, Israel, Iran, UK, India and Russia, suggesting some international tension at that time.

On July 31, 2009, transit Jupiter re-entered the sign of Capricorn in retrograde motion. On September 10, Jupiter will be 25° 00' Capricorn. It will then reach 23° 10' on October 12, when it goes direct and reaches 25° Capricorn again on November 16. During this transit, Jupiter will closely influence planets in the horoscope that are at 22° - 25° Capricorn, Virgo, Taurus or Cancer.

Regarding what the influences will be, we first look to see if Jupiter is a functional benefic or functional malefic planet in the chart - and this depends on the rising sign. In addition to that, we may note that as Jupiter is debilitated in the sign of Capricorn it loses strength and its expression changes. A debilitated Jupiter "...makes a person selfish and divests the native of the power to adhere to the social norms/morality" as per Astrologer & Author V.K. Choudhry. In full strength, the energy of Jupiter manifests by representing the religious and divine things in life, top executives and a cleansing influence. The power of Jupiter as a functional benefic to positively influence is therefore reduced at this time. However, its power to harm through afflicting aspects as a functional malefic planet (as the ruler of 6th, 8th or 12th houses) is increased in such a weak state.

In the article Ties that bind: Israel-USA (March 27, 2009) the placement of the 2nd lord in the most effective point (MEP) of the 7th house ruling foreign matters was highlighted. In both countries the 2nd lord is at 23 - 24° in the cardinal and negative signs of Capricorn or Cancer. In the 20° Cancer rising chart of the USA, the 2nd lord is the magnificent Sun at 23° 44' Capricorn in the MEP of the 7th house, accounting for the unrivalled power of the USA among the family of nations. In the 20° 56' Capricorn rising chart of Israel the 2nd lord is the planet Saturn and it is located at 23° 17' Cancer also in the MEP of the 7th house. Israel also enjoys a status among the nations, but it is linked to its ancient heritage and is of a stern even contracting nature.

As for the transit station of Jupiter, we may note that in the case of the USA, Jupiter is 6th lord of conflict, financial (in)stability and health matters. This energy will place a strain on the 2nd house indications of wealth, status and relations with neighboring countries. As Sun is the general indicator of the leader of a country, the strain will also affect the US President and top leadership. Moreover, the Sun is quite strong in the SAMVA USA chart and transit afflictions thus normally produce a temporary strain rather than a setback. For Israel, Jupiter becomes 12th lord of losses and far awy places. These indications will place a strain on the 2nd house indications. As Saturn is the general indicator of working people, losses or developments in other countries may materialize that place a strain on the general population. Moreover, as Saturn is reasonably strong in this chart, its indications are also fairly durable. As for the timing, the transit Jupiter becomes exactly conjunct natal Sun in the SAMVA USA chart on September 25, 2009, while in the case of Israel the exact opposition aspect takes place on October 5, 2009. The transit chart shown is for October 10, 2009.

Interestingly, there are other aspects going to be felt at that time. In the SAMVA USA Chart (Perpetual Union) chart, transit Ketu will exactly aspect natal Juptier at 4° 25' Scorpio/H5 on September 20. As transit stationary Ketu, which rules over sudden and violent things, has been aspecting natal Jupiter since the summer, this means that significant tension has built up and some violent acts, including increased US military casualties in the war against the Taliban and Al-Queda in Afghanistan, a mass murder at a Gym in early August, along with political turbulence over President Obama's health care reform. This energy can have some further manifestation when the aspect becomes exact. We can also recall that the USA is running the Venus-Saturn period, highlighting the influence of transit Saturn as 8th lord of obstacles and endings. In early October, transit Rahu at 3° Capricorn/H7 will aspect transit Saturn at 3° Virgo/H3. This transit suggests some setback to easy gains or increased problems. Fortunately, neither planet is stationary when the aspect takes place, so the influence will be felt for a brief period and with less intensity. Some manifestations of the transits in the Autumn for the USA may be increased concern about the fiscal position of the Treasury, strain over the exorbitant cost of the bail-out in the banking system, increased inflation concerns as Jupiter, the indicator of monetary policy, afflicts the planet ruling wealth. As the contact takes place in the 7th house, the foreign policy dimension will be acutely felt. A foreign conflict may likely weigh on the US President at that time. The financial dimension of foreign policy may become important at that time, as the lord of financial (in)stability and wealth combine in the house of foreign policy.

In the Capricorn rising horoscope of Israel, the influence of Jupiter as 12th lord of losses and far away places strains the 2nd house indications, suggests some losses will be felt by Israel. The other planetary influences are not helpful to Israel at this time. The Mars-Mars period is operating since March 2009, and during this period we would expect setbacks to the indications of the 4th house, such as collective harmony, natural resources and real estate, as well as for the general indications of Mars, including those professions ruled by this planets, like the police and military. This is because 4th lord Mars is badly placed in the 8th house under the close aspect of 12th lord Juptier in the 12th house. This natal aspect is indicative of the frequent upset to the collective harmony in Israel from foreign hostilities and terrorist actions. In this regard we may note that in early October, transit Mars will move into the sign of Cancer, where it is debilitated. At that time, Mars will also be infant and conjunct transit Ketu, which is not a good contact for such a natally weak and afflicted major and sub-period lord. At the same time, transit 8th lord Sun will be moving into the aspect of transit Jupiter. Given these contacts there is likely to be heightened tension in Israel linked to the above indications, especially in the first half of October.

At the same time, we can expect the influence involving transit Jupiter to be felt earlier - and in fact, if we look closely at the news reports, we can see that already there are developments afoot in these countries.

Israeli prime minister convenes urgent security forum Friday
August 7, 2009, 2:36 PM (GMT+02:00)
http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=6212

Pentagon to speed giant "bunker buster" production amid Iranian, North Korean nuclear concerns
August 3, 2009, 4:56 PM (GMT+02:00)
http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=6207

US to Israel: Leave the military option against Iran to us
July 31, 2009, 3:58 PM (GMT+02:00)
http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=6203

To this we can add that the 23° 42' Cancer rising chart for Iran is highly exposed to these developments. Jupiter as 6th lord is at 5° 30' Cancer/H1, with transit Ketu to become exactly conjunct this placement on September 5, 2009. Further, we can note that transit Saturn at 3° Virgo will be exactly afflicted by transit Rahu at 3° Capricorn on October 5, 2009. These difficult aspects will raise tensions significantly in coming weeks and months and may even result in violent clashes - although transit aspects in the summer of 2010 are more indicative of such a development. In this regard, we may also recall President Obama's meesage to Iran, that the he will look for concrete steps in Iran to meet the concerns of the international community with regard to its intentions concerning the development of nuclear weapons before the end of 2009. As such, the USA seems to have ruled out any military action before that time. That said, new information concerning the development in Iran could of course change the declared stance. In any event, the transits are difficult in the Iranian chart already this summer, and will remain difficult in coming months as well, as earlier discussed.

Even the 20° 44' Gemini rising chart of the Union of Russia and Belarus is not excempt from the tensions at this time. Its 7th lord Jupiter will become transit stationary at 23° 10' Capricorn and the 8th house under exact affliction from natal Rahu at 23° 20' Virgo/H4, which suggests the foreign policy initiatives will become beset by obstacles and endings while experiencing a crisis due to manipulations that upset the collective harmony.

In the horoscope of the United Kingdom, the transit station of 4th lord Jupiter in the 5th house will come under the close aspect of natal Ketu at 22° 59' Virgo/H1. This suggests that the communal harmony, real estate and natural resources in this country will come under strain at that time.

In the Taurus rising chart of India, natal 6th lord Venus at 22° 33' Cancer/H3 will become opposite transit stationary 8th lord Jupiter at 23° 10' Capricorn/H9. This suggests the strain of violent developments. However, we should note that this aspect never becomes exact, which reduces the strain from the transit. Nevertheless tensions or obstacles or endings involving inititiatives of the Indian government concerning conflict, financial or health issues could become prominent in the national life of India at that time, more so as the dual malefic Venus-Ketu period is operating and transit Ketu will be exactly conjunct the Moon as 1st lord of self at that time.

The contact of transit stationary Jupiter in the horoscopes of these countries indicates that significant tensions, even setbacks, will emerge in the international arena this fall.