I recently had the pleasure of seeing two of Peter Weir’s beautiful early films. Weir is an Australian director best known for “Dead Poet’s Society” and “The Truman Show”. His film “The Last Wave” is an apocalyptic thriller involving aboriginal lore which I caught on the recent winter solstice. That film didn’t grab my interest until halfway through but I loved its finale. “The Last Wave” prompted me to watch “Picnic at Hanging Garden”, an earlier and more influential film of Weir’s. I was lured in by the visually stunning images from the cover and booklet art. I was pleasantly surprised to find the film to be an exploration of the Venusian mysteries.
Picnic at Hanging Rock
The main events of the film take place on Valentine’s day. It starts with beautiful young girls in white flowing and lacy outfits preparing at the college. There are valentines, poetry, romantic intrigue between two of the girls, and numerous objects of beauty. Most of them go on a trip to a million year old volcanic formation called Hanging Rock. Their mannerisms and speech brim with feminine mystery, intriguing two boys picnicking nearby.
The rock also radiates mystery. The rock causes the watch to stop of one of their head mistresses. She believes it is due to magnetic disturbance. Another lady is glancing at a book of Botticelli paintings opened to Venus. She says something strange about the main figure of intrigue, Miranda, calling her a “Botticelli angel”. Three girls follow Miranda up and up the rock. Eventually, three of the four girls are barefoot climbing higher, unresponsive to the pleads of the heavy unattractive girl, who freaks out and runs down from the rock.
An Incommensurable Mystery
That is where the mystery truly begins. The girls in some sort of sexual excitement trot up the rock and truly disappear. I would rather not give away all the plot points, but needless to say there are other points of contact with Venus and much to be appreciated in this film. The beauty, sensuality, romanticism, mystery, and incommensurability showcased in the film all lead me to conclude that it is one of the most Venusian pieces of cinema ever made. Those looking for a taste of the essence of Venus, look no further than “Picnic at Hanging Rock” and its Venusian savior, Miranda.
Featured image (cropped) is the painting At the Hanging Rock Mt. Macedon by William Ford (1875) which is in the public domain.
It is my belief, given my years of studying astrology and meeting astrologers, that it is unlikely anyone could have predicted that a horrible school shooting would occur at Sandy Hook. Whether we may ever have that capacity by reading the astrological signs is questionable. However, there is much to be gained by research and data collection. We can examine the ever-flowing pen of history against the signs marked out as significant by ancient astrologers. That is all that I endeavor to briefly cast light on here.
As a father myself, I was deeply shocked and disturbed by the school shooting in Connecticut. I offer my sincere condolences to the loved ones of the victims. I do not intend this examination of the astrology of the events as a means of implying that things were “in God’s plan” or anything of that sort. My faith in both astrology and God are too frail for me to speak confidently about any purposeful underpinning of such tragedy. I only stand continually perplexed by the occurrence of thematically relevant signs in the sky.
Analysis of the Charts
In ancient mundane astrology, the most important charts were those of the moments of the equinoxes, solstices, and lunations (new and full moons; eclipses). In fact, Abu Ma’shar gave 6 hierarchical levels of mundane chart types (see article on the subject here). All of those charts are moments of equinoxes, solstices, and lunations, of varying significance.
For specific events affecting a community, we will typically be interested in the chart of the New Moon from that location as it speaks of the significant facets of the month. For very influential events, particularly those involving transformation of the political, cultural, or physical landscape, we look beyond the month. We do this by looking at the preceding equinox or solstice (for indications regarding the quarter), the preceding vernal equinox for the year, and higher level charts reflecting larger periods.
Vernal Equinox 2012
It is unusual for the US to have two major public shootings in one year. That itself is cause enough to examine the chart of the year, which is the Vernal Equinox of 2012.
Atropos Equinox
While it is not a traditional indication, it is intriguing to me that the Sun was conjunct asteroid Atropos (the one of the three fates which brings death) at the equinox this year. Atropos was at 00ARI39 when the Sun hit 00ARI00, the equinoctial point.
21-23 Sagittarius
In my analysis of the shooting in Aurora, IL, I primarily examined the shooter’s chart. A shocking and fascinating parallel exists between the chart of James Holmes, the Aurora shooter, and the timing of the Sandy Hook shooting by Adam Lanza. James Holmes (the Aurora shooter) was born on December 13th with his Sun at 21 Sagittarius, conjunct Saturn at 23 Sagittarius. The New Moon (conjunction of the Sun and Moon) that occurred the day before the Connecticut shooting in the Sandy Hook area, occurred on December 13th, Holmes’ birthday, at 21 Sagittarius, with the Sun having reached 23 Sagittarius by the morning of the shootings.
New Moon 12-13-12 Sandy Hook
These degrees have an obvious tragic importance for the year. In fact, a friend of mine was born on December 14th (Sun at 22 Sagittarius) and had a trying year. He filed for divorce on his birthday in 2012 (after the same New Moon which occurred before Sandy Hook) amidst very dramatic circumstances. His divorce was less than a year after his wedding.
Degrees Dominated by Saturn of the Air Epoch
What is it about these degrees for this year? There is much mundane astrological literature still yet to be translated into English and published, so perhaps future study will provide more elucidation. For now, my best guess is that the degree area is marked out as particularly linked to afflictions of Saturn for the entire Air epoch in the Jupiter-Saturn cycle which began in 1980.
The 1980 Vernal Equinox from DC projects signs relevant to major events in the US from 1980 to 2159. Saturn, the planet of loss and afflictions, was at 23 Virgo in the chart of the Vernal Equinox of 1980 from DC and was in the 7th House which can be a house of enmity, as well as in the bound of Mars, planet of violence. Sagittarius is dominated by (i.e. in inferior square to) that Saturn. 23 Sagittarius is particularly afflicted by it as the dominated degree. Still, there are many gaps to fill.
Vernal Equinox 1980 (from Washington DC)
The Shocking New Moon and Event Charts
Saturn New Moon
Turning again to the New Moon which occurred about a day and a half before the Sandy Hook shooting, we see some very striking symbolism. Saturn was out of sect, conjunct the Ascendant within a degree, and in the nocturnal house of Mars. This makes for a particularly malefic Saturn ruled by Mars. Mars was in the 3rd House, the main house of schools and primary education, and in the nocturnal house of Saturn. Additionally, 4 planets were in dark places disconnected from the Ascendant (Sun, Moon, and Mercury in the 2nd; Jupiter in the 8th).
New Moon 12-13-12 Sandy Hook
Day of the Attack
News reports indicate that the police were called from the school at about 9:30 am December 14th. Therefore, the violence started some time slightly earlier than this. I use the time of 9:15 am in the chart of the shootings below. This is only an approximation as the shooting of the man’s mother occurred earlier in their house and the school shootings may have gone past 9:30 am.
Importantly, the majority of the killing, if not all of it, occurred while a Moon-Mars conjunction in Capricorn was rising. The Moon is symbolic of the body and congregation, while Mars is symbolic of violence. This configuration can potentially signify bodily harm and waves of violence. It is an effective configuration when the Moon and Mars are in the same sign, but even more so when the Moon is applying within 13 degrees according to Hellenistic sources. Here the Moon is applying within 11 degrees.
The Moon is actually in a condition of being besieged, as she has separated from the malefic Saturn and applies to the malefic Mars. This is symbolic of particularly destructive occurrences, as the Moon rules the general flow of events. Her applications and separations here indicate a movement from bad to worse (sect malefic to non-sect malefic). For a better understanding of what maleficence means, please check out my early post on the malefics.
Newtown Shooting 2012
Now What?
I’ve presented a few more examples of the sky saying something that we should seek to understand more deeply. Unfortunately, I have little more to offer at this time. I can only hope that a great deal of fruitful research into mundane astrology will occur in the coming decades. All astrologers need to learn more about the techniques of the original practitioners of mundane astrology.
Parting Notes on Mars in Capricorn and Dignity
One thing that stands out in this examination is the strong relevance of Mars in Capricorn. Mars was also in Capricorn during the 9/11 attacks. This is worth noting because many traditionalists insist on a separation between “zodiacal” state and “terrestrial” state. However, in that approach Mars is accidentally benefic in Capricorn due to exaltation.
A Nature Determined in the Sky?
The separation between zodiacal and terrestrial state was noted by Morin of the 17th century. In this view, a planet is qualified as pleasant or harmful and so forth by zodiacal factors like dignity and planetary aspects (zodiacal state). Then it is directed to pertain to certain sets of affairs and is quantified in strength by its house placement (terrestrial state). Examining zodiacal state, many astrologers take exaltation and other types of dignity to represent an indication of good. In the case of a malefic, sign dignity could transform it into an accidental benefic.
A False Dichotomy
I have explored reasons why one should abandon this interpretation of sign dignity as being benefic. For instance, Jeffrey Dahmer’s character indicators are burgeoning with planetary dignity while Ted Turner’s are quite ill-dignified. Additionally, terrestrial factors of sect and place were among the most important factors for beneficence in Hellenistic astrology. In short, there are both zodiacal and terrestrial factors which are significant in evaluating the quality (benefic or malefic), quantity (prominence or strength), and topical relevance of a planet’s indications. There is no neat separation between the zodiacal and the terrestrial types of indications when it comes to judging these matters.
Mars in Capricorn
With Mars in Capricorn at this shooting, we see further support here for my position on these matters. We need to dismiss the medieval dignity pointing system, the dignity is beneficence theory, and the Morinus separation doctrine regarding the nature of factors.
Both this shooting and 911 occurred with Mars in Capricorn (the exaltation of Mars). The Aurora killer, James Holmes, had Mars in Scorpio (a domicile of Mars). Jeff Dahmer has Mars in Aries (a domicile of Mars). Such events and characters have been in no way representative of a dignified martial expression. These violent people and events do show a greater prominence of Mars (i.e. augmented quantity). They also show a more malefic expression. Maybe this heightened maleficence is linked to the rulership of Mars by a malefic (itself, or Saturn in the case of exaltation). Or perhaps it is because a planet in a form of rulership is less dependent on rulers and thus more unhindered.
Featured image of police at Sandy Hook Elementary is in the public domain.
Industrial Symphony No. 1 is a very ethereal musical play created by David Lynch. It features music by Angelo Badalamenti with vocals by Julee Cruise. It was performed in 1989, after Wild At Heart and foreshadowing, musically and thematically, the Twin Peaks series. I missed it on its release to VHS in 1990 but it’s also been released in the Lime Green Box Set and a lower quality version floats around on YouTube (below).
The Moon through a Loud Speaker
The irrational is pervasive in Lynch’s work. Watching his films is akin to a swim through the sphere of Yesod on the kabbalistic tree of life. It is of little wonder to find the Moon as the loudest and most influential planet in his life.
General Lunar Prominence
There are many factors that make the Moon the most prominent planet in Lynch’s life in a general way as if her volume has been turned up. The sect light is the Moon (Lynch was born at night), and she is above the horizon in a feminine sign (i.e. in haym). Luna is very prominent as she is strongly advancing on the MC (conjunct MC within 2 degrees). The Moon is in the place of the Good Spirit (the 11th house; pertaining to friends and social benefit). She’s also in the place of Love (i.e. place occupied by the Lot of Love, one of the 4 principal lots, and actually within 2.5 degrees of the lot).
Lynch’s Natal Chart with 4 Principal Lots (CTRL-click to enlarge)
Personal Lunar Prominence
The Moon is also one of the planets that impact the character and sense of self. The Moon’s twelfth-part is in the most important place, the 1st house, which pertains to the self. She also is a lord of the Ascendant (participating triplicity lord with a regard by sextile). Additionally, she regards and rules the lord of the Ascendant (Mars in Cancer) and she is conjunct the twelfth-part of Fortune.
Lynch’s Natal Chart with twelfth-parts (CTRL-click to enlarge)
Lunar Themes
Lunar themes of vivid depths of subjective experience, instinct, and irrationality permeate Lynch’s work. Also, lunar themes of the familiar and habitual (i.e. sentimentality) are also apparent in his life and work. I am thinking particularly of his repeated use of familiar actors, the non-linearity of his work, and the thematic grappling with the relationship between role and real-life. He also explores the complex and paradoxical subconscious evocations of rural life and nature, as well as the influence of dreams, visions, coincidences, and spiritual experiences on life.
The Moon is in Virgo, a mutable sign, thus the Moon tends to express through interactivity, as opposed to through powerful changes (cardinal) or stable developments (fixed). Virgo is an earth sign, evoking the land, tradition, and the body. Virgo’s ruler, Mercury, is the messenger. He is in the 3rd House, the Joy of the Moon. The Moon is herself a traveler, while Mercury delivers and communicates. This adds a lot of movement, interaction, communication, and consultation to the prominent relationship between the Moon and Mercury. The Moon rules Cancer, the 9th house, which is the place of God, pertaining to truth-seeking, spirituality, and foreigners.
Mercury in Capricorn with Sun and Venus
Mercury is in phasis and is most directly influenced by Venus and the Sun, with which he is assembled in the third house, Capricorn. Venus pertains to love and art; the Sun to influence and publicity. This is especially so with Venus, as she is most closely assembled with Mercury and rules his bound (as well as being a triplicity lord of Capricorn). The combination of Venus, Mercury, and the Sun in a place of connection and conveyance is evocative of many important professional aspects of Lynch’s life, from the artistic direction of important projects to his bold use of music.
Capricorn, the 3rd house, is mostly benefic in the chart. It is occupied by the sect benefic and dominated (right-side square) by Jupiter. Meanwhile, Mercury applies an opposition to both malefics, and it is ruled by an out of sect Saturn (in the 9th house of God). This lends an aura of foreboding ethereal terror over matters of Mercury, Venus, the Sun, and the 3rd House.
Echoes in Life and Work
The Moon pertains to family and childhood, especially the mother. The Virgoan Mercurial influence and prominence of the 3rd house fits with Lynch’s mother being an English tutor and his father and agricultural research scientist. Additionally, the prominence of the 3rd House, the Moon, mutability, and Mercury, all evoke travel and movement. This fits with his experience of moving a half dozen times with his family as a child and embarking on some formative trips as a young adult. The land, tradition, the elderly, fear, and handicap are all very Saturnine themes evoked in his work. They are linked with the supernatural and lurking in the shadows, contrasted with human innocence.
David Lynch’s Natal Chart
Malefics in the Lunar House of God
When it comes to personality analysis, the main indicators are the lord of the Ascendant (Mars in this case), Mercury, and the Moon. Mars is in sect and in a good place in the chart, but conjunct the out of sect malefic, Saturn. It is also strongly influenced by both benefics (benefics are in the stakes of Mars), and ruled by the very benefic Moon, while in the bound of the benefic Jupiter. The overall sense with Mars is of an ambitious nature and one which can be irritable and rebellious, but very beneficial and noble (sect, good place, benefic influence). Yet Mars is also touched by the dark, dreadful, and macabre (Saturn). All in all, there is incredible complexity to the character because of all the planetary influences on the lord of the Ascendant. Mars additionally occupies the 9th Place, the House of God, drawing Lynch to spiritual matters.
The 9th House of God
Spirituality itself is a complex and prominent matter in Lynch’s life. On the one hand, there would seem to be animosity toward religion given the strong association between spirituality and evil. This is signified by the presence of both malefics in the 9th, the retreat of Jupiter in the 12th house of the Evil Spirit. Also, there is an identification with rebellious Mars and intellectual Mercury. However, there is an overwhelming prominence and personal investment in matters of spirituality, truth, belief, and dream in his life.
Note that most of the planets in his chart (5 of 7) are in the 9th and 3rd houses. This includes both Mars and Mercury. Also, the sect light (the Moon) rules the 9th, lending additional prominence and associating spirituality with her significations. While Mercury is strong in some ways, it lacks the overwhelming pervasiveness of the more subjective and irrational lunar influence over the life. Through twelfth-parts, we also find the identification with the Moon and Venus, as their parts are in the Ascendant. Additionally, we find Jupiter, the planet of faith and spirit, playing a more prominent role in career and administrative aspects of the life, with its twelfth-part positioned in the 10th of actions and authority.
Lynch with twelfth-parts
Darkness
Fear-inducing (Saturn) and violent (Mars) spiritual entities (9th place) tended over by nature, night, and instinct (the Moon) are frequent themes in his work. The connection with art pertains to the fact that the malefics oppose and rule his Venus, the goddess of beauty and art. Venus is in the 3rd House, the Joy of the Moon, in the nocturnal house of Saturn (Capricorn), in the bound of Mars, and with the Moon as the primary triplicity lord. Her twelfth-part is in the 1st House, that of the self, in the nocturnal house of Mars (Scorpio), in the bound of Jupiter.
Venus is the primary planet pertaining to his aesthetic and it is fitting to find her dominated by subjective and spiritually-tinged maleficence (Mars and Saturn in the 9th, in the bound of Jupiter, ruled by the Moon) and irrationality (Venus in the Joy of the Moon, general pervasiveness of the Moon, Venus and Moon twelfth-parts co-present in the 1st of self and identity). The 3rd house journey/transportation themes also occur frequently in Lynch’s work. Wild At Heart, Lost Highway, and even The Straight Story are road movies, while main characters are often visiting outsiders.
A Couple Key Years
1966: Age 20
In my opinion, a pivotal year in Lynch’s life was 1966, when he moved to Philadelphia to attend an art school which held more promise than the last one, got his future wife pregnant, created his first short film (Six Men Getting Sick), and became acquainted with the fear of crime-ridden urban living.
9th House Profection
He would have been Age 20 at the time, thus the annual profection would have been to his 9th House, Cancer, occupied by the malefics, Mars and Saturn, with the Moon as lord of the year. These are all key influential planets in his chart and especially in terms of relationship and artistic matters (Venus). Lunar years are typically quite varied and eventful, as the Moon is prominent and moves quickly. In this case, the Moon herself profected to the 7th of partnership, ruled by Venus. It was as if in this year Lynch stepped into the house of the Moon, finding Mars and Saturn there creating fear and violence. The Moon lorded over everything as its guide, in terms of pregnancy, bonds, and the artistic promises of the 3rd house.
Solar Return Moon in the 3rd
At the time of the solar return, the Moon was in the 3rd house, conjunct natal Mercury. This put a spotlight on the work of that house. Mars and Venus of the return were both in the 4th of home and family, while Saturn was in the 5th of children just as Saturn’s natal twelfth-part is. This signaled weight and apprehension in the house of children.
David Lynch’s 1966 Solar Return Transits
Zodiacal Releasing of Spirit to Cancer
The importance of a year in terms of one’s professional objectives is primarily seen through zodiacal releasing of Spirit. In October of 1965 the 1st Level of Spirit’s releasing made its first transition from its starting period in Gemini to its new period in Cancer where it would stay until 1990. This started off with a 2nd Level period also in Cancer until October 1967. Therefore, both of the two main levels of Spirit’s releasing were to the 9th House, Cancer, ruled by the Moon, occupied by both malefics, and additionally activated at the Age 20 profection.
Venus-Jupiter and Mercury Activation by Planetary Years
The activations by planetary year were also interesting. Age 20 is most prominently a Mercury year, while also a year in which Venus-Jupiter (8+12) relationships come into play, such as his Jupiter in sign and bound of Venus and dominating her, signifying artistic benefit and children (both planets confer children, and both are the main rulers of the House of Children, the 5th, Pisces).
1990: Age 44
9th House Profection
There were many other pivotal years in his career but 1990 stands out as particularly important and prolific. He won the Palme d’Or at Cannes for Wild at Heart, Twin Peaks was hitting TV audiences, he released the Industrial Symphony No. 1, and his early paintings were in an exhibition. Interestingly, 1990 marked another profection to the 9th House, Cancer. The Moon, lord of the year, was transiting through the 1st house of the Self at the time of the solar return, which was also a Venus return, as Venus was at 27 degrees Capricorn in the return, almost exactly conjunct her natal position at 26 Capricorn, strongly realizing Venus’s artistic birth promises.
Lynch 1990 Solar Return
Zodiacal Releasing of Spirit to Leo
When we look at the releasing of Spirit for 1990, we find that it marked the next Level 1 transition. It went from Cancer (the period which started in 1965) to Leo, the 10th house, ruled by the Sun. Thus this next major transition in his professional life marked a new period, ruled by the Sun. The Sun is with Venus in the 3rd and the Sun rules the 10th house of actions, honors, and authority. It was as if Lynch had received his king’s (the 10th and the Sun both pertaining to rulership/kings).
Image Attributions: Eraserhead poster image (cropped) is in the public domain.
