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Fall 2001 (continued feature article through Summer ‘02)
Current Events: Astrological Views
of World Politics, Economy, and Culture
by Karen Steen, Astrologer
Astrological correlation to the terrorist attacks on America, September 11, 2001, constitute in themselves a course of modern astrology. Contacts between the event charts for the attacks, the inception charts for the U.S., World Trade Center, and Pentagon, and the Birth and Inauguration charts for President Bush demonstrate a full range and depth of temporal and sociopolitical correspondences. The global significance of these attacks and the ensuing War on Terrorism, coincident with the Saturn/Pluto opposition of 8/2001 - 5/2002, have astrologers from different astrological specialties converging to elucidate these events and processes.
As a professional natal astrologer, specializing in the tropical astrology of individual lives, I describe the dynamics and potential of a persons chart within larger social and global processes. I work to bridge the microcosm of personal life and the macrocosm of our world, to understand and describe each persons chart as a particular expression of individual, collective, and cosmic processes. As such, I draw from knowledge of current events and history, scientific disciplines, and specialty fields of tropical astrology - mundane (political), financial, psychological, medical, synastric (relationship), and historical astrology.
I have surveyed astrological articles on current events representing these specialized perspectives and techniques. Several articles are exceptionally rich, specific, and instructive for the general public and students of astrology. I offer here brief summaries and links for those I consider the best and most useful of my survey. Together, they offer a full range of astrological analyses of current global events, from financial to spiritual.
Mundane Astrology is the major branch of astrology that addresses politics, national trends, and world affairs. This Spring 2001 (five months prior to the terrorist attacks), Robert Hand wrote "A Crisis of Power: Saturn and Pluto Face Off" for The Mountain Astrologer. Mr. Hand is regarded as one of the greatest astrologers and astrological scholars of modern times. The beginning of the article reads like a lesson in basic astrology, but don't be dissuaded by Rob's eruditeness. Read past his introduction to the astrological opposition and house polarities, and past his brilliant instruction on Classical mundane techniques, to find a rare treasure of political and economic analyses for 2001-02.
Financial Astrology correlates stock market events and economic cycles with astronomical phenomenon and planetary cycles. It is one of the fastest growing specialties of astrology today, benefiting from advances in software tools, statistical techniques, business applications, and public interest. Raymond Merriman, a leader in this field, recently wrote "The Implications of Saturn in Opposition to Pluto to World Economies and Financial Markets" for the current issue of The Mountain Astrologer. Mr. Merriman describes the correspondence of the 32 - 37 year Saturn/Pluto cycle with historic economic cycles and major shifts in the world economy. He further relates these cycles to the boom and bust cycles in free markets as described by the Russian economist Nicolai Kondratieff, and to the twenty year cycle of U.S. Presidents that includes President Bush's current term. Mr. Merriman completes his analysis by addressing economic considerations for individuals in the coming 8 - 9 years.
Psychological Astrology addresses human consciousness and the meaning of events. It has evolved as a specialty of Natal Astrology (individual or horoscope astrology). Pioneered by psychiatrist Carl Jung, psychological astrology now includes concepts and techniques of humanistic and transpersonal astrology, all which acknowledge a dimension of individual consciousness that transcends the personal. Liz Greene, a psychologist and Jungian astrologer, bridges the event charts for the terrorist attacks and the collective human psyche in her article "The Terrorist Attacks on America: An Astrological Perspective". Ms. Greene regards the attacks as a trigger for transformation of the collective human character, especially that of America. Her analysis provides parallels to individual charts and personal processes.
Historical Astrology correlates historic periods and processes with planetary and other astronomical cycles. It considers historical periods from relatively short duration to the astrological Great Ages that each last about 2,400 years. The 'Age of Aquarius' heralded in the 1960's is one such Great Age. In many ways, I see historical astrology as addressing the evolution of human culture and consciousness. Rick Levine, cofounder of StarIQ.com, recently wrote "Saturn-Pluto Cycles: Modern Historical Perspectives". It gives an historical review of the past five Saturn/Pluto cycles, beginning in 1834. Common features of these cycles were: the abolition of slavery in the West; developments in Civil and Human Rights world wide; and political and military conflicts in the East and Mideast between colonial and national powers (the roots of our current global political crisis). Jeff Jawer's article on the Great Ages, "From Pisces to Aquarius: the Epochal Shift That is Shaking Our World", is as inspiring as it is informative. Mr. Jawer, also a cofounder of StarIQ.com, defines the astrological Great Age and describes the current shift in Ages as signifying the evolution of direct spiritual awareness from the hierarchical and authority based religious spirituality of the past 2000+ years. He gives a riveting discussion of the interaction of science, commerce, and world religions, and the critical importance of a sense of community at this juncture in history.
Finally, "Saturn Opposes Pluto: Evolving Structures of Thought, Language, and Communication", my Summer 2001 article written before the terrorist attacks, offers insight into the process of this long-term transit in your personal life. It also forecasts developments in politics and the economy that I think will return to public attention in the months ahead. Contact me or your local professional astrologer for a personalized consultation about the specific dynamics of this transit in your chart. My best wishes to you all as we grow together toward a global human culture.
Copyright 2001, Karen Steen. All rights reserved.
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