by Marilyn Muir, LPMAFA
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Fifty-one days after the Deepwater Horizon explosion and we still do not know exactly what happened, who caused it, how bad it is, how and when it will be fixed, how much environmental damage has been done, and how much and how long such damage will continue. We can speculate all we want, but these are unknowns at the moment. One thing we do know is that we are in this for the long-term. Decades past the Exxon Valdez debacle, Alaska is still suffering from the results. Plus Exxon as a corporation was relieved by our courts of much of the expense and responsibility for the disaster. As citizens, we are concerned that there will be a haunting repetition of the Exxon Valdez incident as we have become increasingly aware that Deepwater Horizon is a far greater catastrophe. If all the environmental nay-sayers cannot see the truth of ecological disaster in this specific experience, they will never accept that the supposedly intelligent human race is responsible for and to this planet. What we do and what we do not do makes a difference to the survival of our world, as well as our own collective and personal survival. “Drill, baby, drill” echoes in my head like a pronouncement of immanent doom. There are none so deaf as those who will not hear.
Instead of the harm being done to an inlet, the harm is currently being done to the entire Gulf of Mexico. In all probability, the Gulf Stream will carry the mess around the tip of Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean. While the specific problem exists 41 miles off the coast of Louisiana, the effect will travel the ocean currents for thousands of miles and can affect many states and possibly other countries. Have you forgotten the many countries that border on the Gulf of Mexico? The negative affect on the Gulf eco-system is not isolated. Remember that there are no fences or boundaries in this body of water. What affects one part of the Gulf will have a ricochet effect on the whole of the Gulf. Because of the enormity of this spill, this is a worldwide catastrophe and not a local one.
I am not understating or ignoring the enormous effect on Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. I am a Florida East Coast resident, and I understand the potential effect on my state and that damage may not be isolated to the pristine beaches of northwest Florida’s Panhandle region. The Gulf Stream will take this ecological nightmare across the Florida Keys, which is to my mind one of nature’s most beautiful places, and then up the east coast (where I live and love) of the United States as it travels the ocean currents. From there, other countries can be affected and infected.
The obvious and visible ecological damage is just plain repulsive to watch. There is a less visible but more human effect about making a living, personal, family and societal survival, as well as the economics for each region and state. The destruction of a way of life is more abstract but just as repulsive. I cannot imagine what it might feel like to have my way of life destroyed, perhaps beyond repair and the sense of helplessness that must permeate such an experience. Humans are creatures of habit, and what has been known as a way of life for millions of people over generations of time no longer exists or is under onslaught. Again, I cannot imagine how beyond awful that must feel.
It is fairly easy to feel for those who are directly affected (as long as your heart is still operating), but you or I are not exempt from the potential of harm wherever we live. This catastrophe will directly affect the sea beds throughout the Gulf and the Atlantic, and those are both major food supplies. This disaster has damaged and will continue to damage what is considered to be the source of life – our oceans – and the delicate eco-system that exists there. It might not be affecting you today but down the road we will all feel the impact both in terms of cost and availability of the resource called food. We may all get to go on an unintentional diet due to scarcity. I hope it will not be worse than that. Is there no respite or better solution?
My particular expertise is astrology, so I set the wheel for the explosion itself to see what I could find. I also looked at the USA Declaration of Independence Virgo rising wheel (my choice for our country’s natal sky map) to see the direct effect on us as a country. Plus I set the wheel for the original corporation that has become today’s BP. To understand the background of the company I read the most amazing historical record of what we now know to be BP and determined it would take some sort of genius months to work through all that history one wheel at a time. I was hoping for a much quicker answer for this article, so a deeper understanding must wait further research.
Astrology For astrologers and non-astrologers alike, this event is a conundrum, with multiple ways of viewing through the astrological porthole, just as we are physically viewing the ongoing disaster through multiple underwater cameras. Confusing, muddied, and diverse opinions, but let us see what we can determine written as simply and distinctly as possible…
- We will look at Neptune for the ocean and all liquids such as petroleum, and gas.
- We will look at Pluto for that which is underground, such as the oil storage beneath the water of the ocean, and stored in vaults and caves deep within the earth, similar to mining. Pluto also has to do with catastrophes and incidents over which we have little control.
- We will look at Uranus for earthquakes, explosions, and surprises, particularly that which results from cutting edge technology.
- We will look at Saturn for responsibility, structure and organization.
The BP wheel BP (current name) as a corporation was originally born on April 14, 1909 in Westminster, England as the Anglo Persian Oil Company. As with most corporations, birth time is difficult to determine, so noon is used (the middle of the business day).
- The company was born in mid-Aries, with the Sun, Venus, Mercury and Saturn all within about 8.5 degrees – a close, strong grouping (stellium) that over-emphasizes Aries. When positive, Aries can be initiating, challenging, and assertive but also may be rash, aggressive and risk-taking on the negative side.
- These qualities are further emphasized by the square (challenge, problem, obstacle) of Uranus (inventive, innovative, exploratory, but also the wild card, pushing the envelope, unwilling to play by the rules).
- To muddy this picture, there is also a square (challenge, problem obstacle) to Neptune (inspiration, creativity, imagination) but which can also cause illusion, delusion, and dishonesty.
- In particular the very tight square between Saturn and Neptune illustrates the conflict between the natural organized business function, which can at moments be cold and calculating (Saturn), and the illusion, confusion and deception of a negative Neptune.
- This six-planet (out of a possible ten) T-square is a dominant, inherent quality within the originating company that periodically gets activated.
If you read their history as I did, you can see this conflict operating on a continual basis throughout the lifetime of the company. We want the dreamer, the imagination and the inspiration. We want the courageous challenger to forge new avenues of growth and experience. However, in order for that to be a positive experience this controlling major aspect cannot be allowed to interfere in the responsibility and the integrity of the company. From their history, such major events have happened repeatedly and with amazing repercussions.
The BP wheel with the USA wheel This BP (original) T-square aspect pattern fits right in with the USA wheel with direct connections from the BP Neptune to the USA self-identity and purpose (Sun), and it is in direct conflict with our concept of responsibility, professionalism, and structure in our money arena (house). When the numbers like this line up closely, they can be activated from time to time involving both entities, the country and the company, in major stress events. This is not the first time the USA has had conflict with the company known currently as BP. Sometimes the USA played the good guy, but many times we did not! This is a difficult pattern that plays out periodically and with, at times, disastrous results.
Add the Explosion Wheel The explosion wheel further connects the two wheels (original BP and USA) into a common event with worldwide effect through the nodal axis and through Mars, the planet of war and fire. We certainly saw that one occur with the out of control fire that raged 36 hours between the explosion and the sinking of the rig to the ocean floor. I wonder why the shutoff valve or the part of the rig under the waterline where the fire was raging was not accessed prior to the collapse of the rig itself? Perhaps the multiple robots were not in place or available at that time? Or were frightened, confused people not thinking properly?
Progressed USA wheel I progressed (moved) the USA wheel to the day of the explosion and, believe it or not, there is a saving grace in this particular picture. There is no way I would underestimate the impact on our country or on the ecological disaster in the Gulf, but the USA progressed Jupiter is helping to some degree. If BP keeps its word and pays for the costs incurred in this tragedy, that could be the element of protection to our country and its economy. This is an ecological, societal and economic tragedy, so we must look to whatever good we can find. Interestingly enough, it is transiting (current) Jupiter that seems to have been the trigger for the explosion itself. So we are seeing a good side of Jupiter on the one hand and the triggering of the explosion on the other hand. Makes me sound like I am talking out of both sides of my mouth, but these are the measurements. Both are operating. Which one will dominate?
I have heard many people calling for boycotts, for government takeover, for stiff penalties and more. I am sorry, people, BP needs to be kept viable if we want them to behave responsibly and pay for this mess. If BP is driven out of business, payment will not be forthcoming from them as they will be bankrupt and any assets or compensation would be spread amongst their creditors. Yes, there is more than one type of bankruptcy or receivership, but our multiple billion-dollar claims would not fare well. In stock market terms, as a public company, they could also be subject to a takeover, hostile or otherwise. As a nation, we would lose economically. We as a country and its citizens could have to pay for all of this disaster. Our indebtedness is already sky high without forcing this enormous responsibility upon ourselves. It is in our best interest to keep BP solvent and viable… and controlled.
In addition, thousands of small business failures of the local or mom and pop operators would contribute to an already difficult economy. As a nation we would lose again. We need to keep our wits about us and carefully examine the steps we take with BP. It would not be in our national best interest to punish them at this moment. Besides that, we do not even know what actually happened and where the responsibility lies. Also, it is my understanding that our U.S. legal system mandates that we must prove that BP is responsible in a court of law. Our personal conclusions about the obvious are not legally valid. Legally we have to prove guilt first.
With the resultant presidential edict to stop drilling, thousands more companies and employees are impacted and desperately want previously permitted drilling to resume. The questions are: Are there any more existing wells teetering on the brink of disaster? Are the emerging wells safe? New safety measures must be incorporated to avoid a repeat. On the one hand, you have economic backlash, and on the other hand, you have safety and responsibility issues. These are passionate issues for both sides and each side has valid points. Another disaster like the one we are enduring is mind-boggling to contemplate and the results could be even more disastrous. When does the world just break?
At the time of the explosion transiting (current) Jupiter and Uranus were hanging around together (conjunct) in the sky. That would have the effect of Jupiter enlarging and expanding the usual wild card effect of Uranus. The Saturn/Uranus opposition the world has been dealing with for nearly two years is nearing its conclusion. It was, unfortunately, just joined by transiting Jupiter, and that provided the trigger. This is the combination that I believe is the control function of the explosion itself. That is where we must look for duration and potential termination. Remember, there will be many stages to this disaster, pieces will be resolved from time to time but the overall process will take a long time. Saturn will be moving out of this pattern at the end of July and that will help, but the Jupiter/Uranus joining will not complete itself until January of 2011. That is what I call a staging process, first one piece and then another.
USA Diurnal Wheel To also illustrate the direct connection of this aspect to the USA wheel, the USA diurnal (day wheel) for April 20, 2010 activated the angles (usually the pointer for that day’s activity) with the Jupiter/Uranus combination on the midheaven (goal, purpose, mission) and the day’s Moon and lunar nodes on the USA diurnal ascendant (response to the environment, personal projection and coping skills, up close and personal events). The far-reaching societal consequences (lunar nodes) and the affect on the public and the public participation (Moon) round out this picture. For the USA, that day promised to be significant and it really went way beyond significant!
I do have a concern about the movement of Jupiter to the square of Pluto in February, 2011, but the blessing is that it is short-lived. Pluto could have to do with the under-the-surface topography that may be developing fractures. We cannot beat up on the well itself (we may have weakened or damaged it – not good) and the surrounding rocky structure a mile beneath the surface. This could cause leakage far beyond the well itself, particularly if we damaged the ceiling of the oil chamber itself. That would come under Pluto’s governance. Such a break would be way beyond our control and would be even more catastrophic. Myriad tiny fractures in the roof of the oil dome could cause lots of small leaks into the waters of the Gulf. How in the world (literally) do we stop thousands of tiny leaks? I have even heard remarks about using a nuclear bomb to seal this well. If you read the first part of this paragraph, what do you think that would do to the ceiling of the oil chamber? Talk about myriad little fissures… this would be the grand-daddy fissure maker of them all. How do you plug this kind of hole? This requires diligent observation as we move forward in time. Just for the USA progressions (moving chart), there are three periods to watch for such Pluto activity:
- now to April of 2011 – USA progressed midheaven conjunct USA natal South Node
- 2012 – USA progressed midheaven conjunct the USA natal Pluto, and
- 2014 and 2015 – USA progressed midheaven conjunct the USA progressed Pluto.
The good news is that some negative activations have a relatively short period to complete themselves. Once completed, the energy needed for the activation starts to dissipate or weaken. We may have to continue to deal with what has already been set in motion, but new activations would no longer occur from that particular activation. Once an aspect passes exact, it proceeds to become a point of history. Unfortunately, this is not something that has a single end date because it is a series of inter-related events. Each fix will help. But if you noticed, this did string out in time.
So much is dependent on everyday decisions such as whether or not to nuke the problem. We have a world full of bright minds with hopefully bright ideas for solution of this dilemma. Now if the politicians and the business community can get beyond self-interest and just do what is right for the environment and the world in general, we can fix what is wrong and proceed into the future with as little damage as possible. We took our two steps forward when we drilled and now we are taking our one step back as we learn to fix what went wrong. It will then be time to take the next two steps forward, hopefully a little smarter than we were for this last cosmic dance step.
For those interested in the astrological data:
- USA Declaration of Independence: July 4, 1776, 9:36 am LMT, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Progress this wheel to the date of the explosion
Using the USA birth data, set the diurnal for the day of the explosion - Anglo-Persian Oil Company (now BP): April 14, 1909 in Westminster, England (noonmark); source: http://www.Funkastrology.co.uk
- Deepwater Horizon Explosion: April 20, 2010, 9:53 pm CDT, 41 miles off the Louisiana shore at 28 N 44’12”, 88 W 23’14”
First published on All Things Healing website June, 2010, republished with slight editing.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.