Astrology is always a serious business when interacting with clients as although the questions posed may seem frivolous to the astrologer, the judgements delivered can have serious implications on the lives of your clients. It is therefore imperative that an element of fun is maintained when you are a practicing astrologer otherwise you end up taking yourself too seriously. I love this craft, it is my passion and my inspiration, and I need to “play” with it as well to keep the love affair exciting. I do this by posing questions that are thought provoking and seeing how the craft can bend within its technical parameters. The fun element is derived through the application of skill – just as a master goldsmith would create a piece of jewellery - bending and shaping his metal, seeing how pliable it is within its very firm parameters – so too can the delineation of a chart do this for the astrologer. I have no burning desire to be right or wrong when I assess these questions – my wrong could be God's right and vice versa – it is merely an application of my level of skill pitted against a craft that will always be bigger and better than me. The sheer delight of doing this cannot be matched by anything else and only someone who is not an astrologer would find this statement hard to swallow!

Terrorism Introduction

The recent attacks in India coupled with the protests in Thailand (in which I had a vested interest as that is where I was headed for my holiday) initiated this question. I simply wanted to assess the strengths and weaknesses of terrorists in the forthcoming year and to gain some astrological insight. The question posed was “what will the strengths and weaknesses of terrorist groups be globally in 2009 and how will this affect the world in general”. The Oxford dictionary describes terrorism as “practice of using violent and intimidating methods esp. to secure political ends”. That said some governments in power today should be classified as terrorists but I will leave that topic on the shelf for a later article. You could argue the point that everyone has the right to their beliefs and that my right is (possibly) your wrong but for clarity in this article please remember the definition of terrorism – we are assessing groups of people who actively pursue and defend their beliefs through the methods of violence and intimidation.

The Technical Delineation

12th of December 2008, 11.20pm, Johannesburg , SAFR, Asc 2Virgo44.

L1 is “us” the anti terrorists and I viewed this on a global level, not being applicable to any one country. L7 is the terrorist groups as they are an open enemy of the free world, thus we have the “war against terrorism”. The manner in which they go about their business could be classified as 12th house but they are most certainly an open enemy. L1 Mercury is peregrine, posited in the 5th and in a partile conjunction with Pluto who is highly malefic. Our assets, in other words our resources such as money and even the manpower which is used to combat terrorism, is L2 Venus. She is posited in the 6th, has dignity by face and is in a partile sextile to the antiscion of Jupiter which is at 5Sag. L7 is Jupiter in fall, posited in the 6th and closely aspected by Saturn in the 1st who has dignity by term. Their assets are L8 Mars posited in the 4th, peregrine and combust – the Sun is also peregrine. The Moon as co significator of the querent, the flow of events and the ruler of the common people is VoC, posited in the 10th and peregrine. She is closely aspected by Saturn and she is separating from an opposition to the Sun by 3 degrees so she is still vulnerable. The fixed stars applicable are Saturn on Denebola, Algorab on the 2nd, Polis on the 5th, Mercury on Spiculum, Venus on Bos and the PoF on Deneb Adige.

Delineation Introduction

When reading Christian Astrology I am always struck by how William Lilly uses the planets to gain insight into his subjects and here I have endeavoured to do the same. The disposition and manners of Mercury are described by Al Biruni as “sharp intelligence and understanding, affability, gentleness, keeps away from trickery, open countenance, far sightedness, etc” which does describe the essence of humans not willing to use their physical bodies as detonators, and Mercury rules trade and commerce with which people of the “free” world are very much aligned. He also describes Mercury as “being fearful of enemies and ruining prospects by too great anxiety and misfortune”. Jupiter is described as “devout, administering justice, inspiring, religious, truth-telling, noble, etc” and he adds under instincts and morals “in addition to affability some levity and recklessness”. It is important to remember that the true essence of a planet does not change – Jupiter, even if fall, still has an essential goodness and Mercury is always one to keep an eye on based on his essential nature. “We” are most certainly not without guilt regarding atrocities that have been committed in the countries from which many of these terrorist cells spring. Without wishing to beleaguer the point we can see how appropriately the two main significators are represented. It is important to bear in mind that most terrorist groups – and I am not referring here to the opportunists who climb onto the band wagon – have their fundamental root as a religious one, even if that means they have misconstrued or distorted the original religious teachings – or else they have a cause that they truly believe in which they raise up to religious status – in their eyes they are serving something greater than themselves which is most certainly a strong Jupiter quality.

Terrorism in 2009

Jupiter represents something good gone bad but posited in an unfortunate house will have less power to act. This means that it will become increasingly difficult for terrorist groups to manifest their power but they are aided by a very strong Saturn (angular and in term) and he is the great malefic. Even though Saturn is in detriment of Jupiter and ruled by Mercury, he is in the fall of Venus so the deciding factor will be which does he hate more, the terrorist groups or our assets? Saturn rules the 6th house and this is an area of concern. It is a known fact that terrorist groups thrive in the rural areas (6th house) where they offer poverty stricken and poorly educated people something to believe in. Jupiter is ruled by Saturn both essentially and accidentally and is dependant on these rural areas in order to survive. It is these rural areas that will possibly aid the terrorist groups; and they certainly have the power to act and Denebola highlights their plight beautifully. Known as the Judge or Lord who Cometh this fixed star describes the conditions and mind set of those in the rural areas who would assist them.

Jupiter also has an easy (sextile) influence on our assets Venus. This depicts how our assets are channeled into this war against terrorism and this could possibly be a concern as this aspect is by antiscion. Have these terrorist groups infiltrated our resources and are they able to have access to them in a covert way? Algorab on the 2nd speaks of scavenging, destructiveness and lying – it is situated on the right wing of the Crow – a bird that has a watchful eye, ready to pounce on an object at the first opportunity. Bos which has bearing on Venus is situated in the Goat's face and possibly those that oversee our 2nd house matters have put strong Capricorn measures in place to protect our assets, so this sextile between Jupiter and Venus, by antiscion, could also be viewed as our assets easily influencing L7, thereby making some inroads in the war against terrorism. Venus is however applying to conjunct the N Node which does bode well.

Mars as the assets of the terrorist groups is interesting as he is posited in the 4th which depicts our cities. Being combust these assets are well hidden within our city walls, and although debilitated, they are present in the 4th. This could depict their money that is “hidden” in our banks or that their manpower is living as ordinary citizens in major cities; it is probably both. You could also turn the chart and have the money in the house of their “king”, thus seeing the Sun as the king as well, so it is he who controls the assets of these groups.

Spiculum is the arrow head of Sagittarius and this fixed star denotes how we (Mercury) go forth in our management of this issue. Ptolemy calls it productive blindness, so while we are launching ourselves with passion and aggression at these terrorist groups to counteract the growing concerns and fears, there is something that we do not (choose to) see. I personally found this a very important aspect of the story as Mercury also rules the radical 10th – our kings and leaders. I never buy into conspiracy theories, to be honest I find them irritating and juvenile, but this configuration does show that there is a possibility that all is not what it seems – the games people play, especially in the political arena.

The Moon on Al Hecka provides danger of violence, malevolence and accidents, and evil habits and company, showing us that the terrorism threat is far from over. Our PoF is disposited by Jupiter and the 7th has power over it – we are truly, on a fundamental level, at the mercy of these groups. But, Deneb Adige shows quick learning and a clever intellect so new methods and systems will be found and implemented to continue to gain the upper hand in this fight – that is the deepest desire of those who are anti terrorism.

Summary

The beauty of astrology is that it tells it as it is, and much of this we already know. However, what this specific chart shows us is that it is going to become increasingly difficult for terrorist groups to act. They are not in a position to manifest their badness without the assistance of the Saturn houses – and if we turn the chart the 6th is their 12th, so we can see that to some extent they are imprisoned or locked away, unable to pursue their goals as they would wish to. But we would be naïve to think that they will simply go away – I view it more as them going deeper underground and that eventually a stronger subversive element will arise. Jupiter will move into Aquarius where he will be peregrine so essentially they will weaken even more, but the wheel always turns. Mars will move into Capricorn where he is exalted so their assets will most definitely improve only to provide the necessary means when they are once again ready to act. Mercury has just entered Capricorn so we see that the dominance that Jupiter had over us has shifted and the loathing that we now have for these terrorist groups will possibly result in an increase in the efforts made to counteract them. The Moon however is currently in the detriment of Jupiter but when she enters Cancer she will exalt him – this is a concern if she is viewed as the common people.

Conclusion

Based on the chart I conclude that terrorist activity will not be as prolific in 2009 as it has been up until now, but that does not mean it will simply disappear. I view it as a winter period – it will be a time to regroup and restructure and to then launch their efforts when they are stronger. Much of how this will manifest depends on how we act in the interim. Looking at the journey of Saturn into Libra, if we can attend to certain international policies, address poverty and the lack of education in rural areas and improve our image in the minds of these people, the terrorist groups will lose much of the power they have in these areas. All of this must be done before Jupiter enters his own sign of Pisces in 2010. 2009 will be a less active year on the fighting front but for both parties it will be one of work done behind the scenes, a time of preparation. Mercury in the 5th speaks of inventions, creativity and coming up with new and innovative ways to counteract terrorism, and Jupiter in the 6th (their 12th ) will be strategising and plotting their way forward. This is quite simply a case of what you sow you will reap – how we move forward and the manner in which we deal with what is afflicting us will set the tone for how much power these terrorists will have and how much support they will enjoy when the wheel of fortune turns.