John Gadbury, an English astrologer, interpreted Comets in his book, De Cometis. He wrote: ‘These Blazeing Starrs! Threaten the World with Famine, Plague, & Warrs’- ‘To Princes, Death: to Kingdoms, many Crises: to all Estates, inevitable Losses!’ The following year (1665) London was hit by the Black Death, followed by the Great Fire the year after.
but
In Applebees Journal 1723 Defoe countered the gloomy prognostications of astrologers by listing a number of benign comets i.e. those which appeared at great and happy moments in human history - William Lee - Daniel Defoe: His Life and Recently Discovered Writings 1716-1729
So which is it? Doom or joy? What are we to make of the latest, magnificent comet C/2011 L4 a.k.a PanSTARRS - so named from Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response - which has now joined the other 6 heavenly bodies in the division of the ecliptic that we designate as Pisces (see previous post).
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| Here is PanSTARRS in a picture taken from Australia by Jim Gifford |
Is it an ominous portent or quite the opposite? Well put it this way, it would seem that something is about to flare up! I say this because the comet is currently precisely conjoined to Mars and is making its way into the 'uprising' sign of Aries on March 9th. On Tuesday, 12th March, Mars follows suit and heads towards a conjunction with the planet of the unexpected; the radical, the unprecedented, the shocking - Uranus - on the 22nd, which at 8 degrees Aries is in close square to Pluto (at 11 Capricorn).
As, one by one, this current line up of planets in Pisces transition into the sign of Aries and join Uranus then square Pluto it is clear that we are all going to be feeling the impetus of new beginnings. New jobs, new roles, new homes, new babies, new finances, new partners, it's all change that's for sure. Furthermore, it will be rapid change once things really start to kick off. For just as Aries is the sign associated with new beginnings, unfolding and the initiation (or ignition of things) it has also been noted that when Mars occupies this sector of the skies it correlates with speed. It also has correspondence with firestorms, fireballs, anger, aggression, cuts (physical or metaphorical like job cuts) firearms (so expect the ongoing gun control debate to be absolutely center stage in coming weeks). Sadly it also has links to rockets and war.
By the second week in April the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Uranus will all occupy Aries. You don't need me to tell you that a big changing of the guard is underway. You can most likely feel it in your own life and see it out in the world. The Pope's being replaced. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has also abdicated - something is coming to an end or something is into a big transition phase in your life too. It's probably going to be a bit of a breath-holding couple of months in places where tensions are already high and people are keen to make changes or to break new ground. Planets in Aries also invoke the opposite sign of Libra so diplomacy and negotiation will be a factor. New agreements may be forged but confusion and uncertainty could precede them. Everyone should watch out for impulsiveness if there's a feeling that things aren't happening fast enough or time is running out.*
Aries is also a cardinal sign, which brings us right back to the subject of the new Pope. Having looked at the AstroMaps (see here for more about what I can tell you from these) I have to review my previous assertion that it looked like Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone may be the most likely candidate to fulfill the Petrus Romanus prophecy and instead tell you the following:
Comet PanSTARRS became visible to those of us in the northern hemisphere from last night (7 March) and, as I say, it is currently in the last 2 degrees of Pisces making it's way across the 'World Point' of 0 Aries tomorrow, 9th March.*
0 Aries is the Greenwich Meridian (also known as the Prime Meridian) and this means that the comet will cross from west to east longitudes. In order to see the locations on the globe where the comet finds angularity I want to show you the Astromaps*
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| Pisces Stellium to west of London today but PanSTARRS (9th) and Mars (12th) heading East over 0 Aries |
At the moment the 5 planets and Chiron plus the comet are bunched up in Pisces still to the west of England and Europe - see above (the comet's shown by the black line) but Mars and the Comet are just about to cross over the Prime Meridian and that firmly highlights Africa.
The comet PanSTARRS will symbolically cross this imaginary line on the 9th March and Mars follows on Tuesday 12th. The war torn country of Mali has the Prime Meridian (0 Aries) going right through it so let's keep an eye on developments there but regarding the papacy it is interesting to note that Cardinal Peter Turkson (64) currently a front runner, hails from another location under the Prime Meridian, Ghana.
5 Facts about The Potential First Black Pope
Could it possibly be that the Comet (which along with Venus has angularity over Ghana) foretells that Turkson will get the job? Is it a harbinger of luck for a Ghanian pope? Chiron, a planetoid associated with 'Christed' people is there above Ghana at the Equinox too and with the forename of Peter he would certainly fit the bill but wait... could it possibly be that Cardinal Francis Arinze from Nigeria, a man widely expected to be passed over because of his advanced age - he's 80 years old - will unexpectedly be given the position?
When we also look at where the March 22nd Mars/Uranus lines fall we find them conjoining right over Nigeria!
Either way, whether Turkson or Arinze - or even a totally shock choice like Cardinal Wilfred Napier from Durban, an African pope would be a radical change, therefore perfectly fitting the symbolism of the Mars/Uranus (square Pluto in Capricorn) conjunction in Aries.
Update: Conclave due to start on March 12th as Mars crosses Prime Meridian (0 Aries)
* Thanks to Tracy at Serennu.com for this info
* The advice here is to try and chill out because everything ultimately happens to perfect timing.
* Astrologers: I use geodetic maps for issues pertaining to humanity and global events and normal ACG for natal charting.
Note: Mars is strong , assertive and often uncompromising in Aries. It's the placement of 'I want it and I want it now.'
*Arinze cannot vote but he can be elected
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