OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2008

Before discussing the prospects for the Philippines during the last three months of 2008, we have to delve into the effects of a significant planetary formation that has formed during the last several months.

This particular formation – the opposition between Saturn and Uranus -- is unsettling the entire world, not only our country. Unavoidably, we have to use astrological jargon in order to understand the implications of such formations in our collective lives. In the following paragraphs, I shall paraphrase several observations of astrologers in presenting the effects of the Saturn-Uranus opposition.

Saturn and Uranus have begun a series of five oppositions, concluding in the summer of 2010. The opposition will be exact on November 4. Saturn is the planet that rules over the status quo, governmental and societal structures that hold chaos at bay, the limitations that we place on our world. Uranus is the planet that invites the chaos in to create radical changes in our world. It seeks new ways of thinking and innovative discoveries. When these two planets oppose each other a tension is created between the old (Saturn) and the new (Uranus).

There is much conflict during these times, with a lot of social unrest all around the world. The more rigid the ego [Saturn], the sharper the break must be in the end. If a crucial phase of the Saturn-Uranus cycle coincides with some overwhelming emotional crisis, the cause will always be the rigid inertia of social customs, privileges, personal habits, or assumed behavior patterns which resist the call of the creative spirit within.
We can all feel the rumblings of inevitable change and yet we have no real clue as to what this really means or how it will actually manifest both individually and societal. We may all feel restless for a revolution in our lives but not at the expense of losing a foundation. We need structure but not at the expense of our individuality.

Saturn is the builder and the voice of time and authority. Saturn says we need to move slowly and to make changes in increments so as not to cause damage to pre-existing structures. Uranus is the complete opposite in that it is without sentimentality and a loyalty to tradition because its only goal is to express and fulfill the individuated needs of the soul. It is inevitable with this configuration that there will be moments of extremism. If there is too much chaos and revolution, Saturn will enter to bring back a semblance of order and normalcy. If there is a clamping down on the rights and freedom of any group of individuals, the more there will be a need for social and political activism. With an opposition, you can’t have one without the other.

Saturn passing Virgo requires responsibility, patience and maturity in responding to the demands of the situation. On the other hand, Uranus-in-Pisces generates a deep need and desire to radically change and alter the preexisting patterns life. Saturn represents a sense of order and cohesion while Uranus symbolizes the watery depths of the unconscious that is demanding the severance and overthrow of whatever is limiting spiritual and creative yearnings. Whether it is actually flooding the various parts of the country eventually finds its way into consciousness no matter what the cost. Accidents, shocking news, sudden reversals, the unpredictable forces of nature and/or a conscious decision to alter the course of one’s life; Uranus is the great messenger of divine discontent compelling us to free ourselves of outmoded karma. Thus we are witnesses to the various upheavals in other countries, such as resignations or ousters of rulers, as well as immense climatic disasters that afflicted humanity.

All of this talk of change can be frightening to many people in a time of crisis such as the one we find ourselves in at this moment. When we are frightened we may tend to cling to that which is familiar (Saturn) rather than embrace something the unknown (Uranus).

Noticeably, the exact opposition of the two planets will occur on November 4; Election Day in the United States. Astrologers attribute Saturn to the Republicans while Uranus to the Democrats. Since Uranus is retrograde or moving backwards, astrologers consider it as having more power and thus predict that Obama, the Democrat, will prevail. On the other hand, Saturn transiting McCain’s Saturn in his natal horoscope gives an interpretation that he is scheduled to receive his due reward for past actions. Now, we have to input what kind of past actions he has done in order to merit winning the presidency.

And now, for the Philippines, based on the Ingress chart for Libra.

There will be significant show of discontent among the people against the Administration, somehow due to certain economic policies related to foreign affairs and trade. The discontent will be marked among the labor force due to their reduced buying power and a decline in economic activity.

The clash between conservatism and liberalism is being manifested in the conflict between the Church and Congress over reproductive health matters. The trend may become heatedly strong that would involve even policies related to both basic and higher education and between domestic and international media.

There will be illness and death among prominent people connected with publishing or literary affairs; as well as danger of accidents, and losses in the restricted publishing industry.

Agricultural activity may not be seriously affected by the several typhoons that hit the country; however, the farmers do not benefit much from their labors due to the importation of agricultural products that seriously compete with their prices.

There will be fires in public buildings, mining disasters and earthquakes. Building operations and the property market may suffer in the process. There are indications showing explosions, and accidents on aircraft. Strikes and disputes are developing among shipping circles and their crews.
The armed forces continue to be in a state of unrest although still within control. The “peace process” in Mindanao is a disappointment to the soldiers as they seem to die for nothing. The unrest among the working classes, on the other hand, may result in strikes and eventual closure of factories.

Foreign relations will be in a condition of developing confusion or of sluggishness due to the conflicting interests among the Powers, especially in connection with financial and trade questions. The recent panic created by the milk scare will seriously affect relations with China, as well as international investments that become victims by association of collateral decline in trade involving other products made in that country.

Scandals will be markedly high in the home life, divorces, and many unpleasant episodes in public life. There will also be much increase of insanity, and deaths by suicide due to the perceived harsh economic conditions in the countryside.

Much crime is indicated in the country, as well as trouble in connection with prisons. Scandals will surface involving hospitals and charitable institutions. Crime against women and children will be frequent.

JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2008

During the Second Quarter, most of the news – both domestic and international – featured a number of calamities, both natural and manmade. In the United States, parades of tornados, unusual floods and wildfires (triggered by a record-setting number of lightning strikes) bedeviled the people. China, as well as Japan, was hit by devastating earthquakes as well as floods. Lately, the Philippines was hit by a powerful typhoon, sinking a large ferry, inundating several cities and municipalities with water and mud, and destroying large tracts of agricultural land with ripening grain that bode difficult times ahead.

Without going into the astrological aspects of the periodic horoscopes we use to forecast things to come, let us indulge in some astrophysical realities.

An article “The Day the Earth Fell Over” in the Geological Society of America Bulletin discussed the impending possibility of a dramatic imbalance of the planet. It says that “[S]cientists already know that the North Pole wanders over time. But a theory known as the true polar wander suggests that if a very heavy object, like an oversized volcano forms far from the equator, the force of the planet’s rotation would pull the object away from the axis the Earth spins around. Should a mass such as the very heavy volcano become unbalanced, Earth would tilt and rotate itself with the extra weight moves somewhere near the equator.”

The ancients must have instinctively sensed this dire possibility, or experienced the unfortunate conditions. Thus they must have been prodded to erect the number of large pyramids we now see in Egypt and in Mesoamerica near the Equator.

The shift in the Earth’s rotation definitely affects the several material layers of the planets composition – the lithosphere, the crust, the upper mantle, the asthenosphere, the lower mantle, and the outer and inner cores. There are also the volatile layers – the oceans and seas, and the atmosphere that glide over the solid surface of the earth.

Which brings us to the possibility that the stresses caused by the Sun-Moon syzygies (the new and full moons) are the reasons for the unusual weather patterns obtaining in the world today.
The annular eclipse of February hit at the southernmost edge of the Earth (see figure below). The stress generated by the gravitational pressure of the Earth-Moon-Sun alignment must have tipped the poles of the planet somehow and moved them out of kilter.

And the Earth must undergo several adjustments in order to compensate for the imbalance resulting from the tilt. Thus, the tectonic plates had to undergo shifting, and the vulnerable spots that had to give caused the earthquakes.

In the same manner, the weather became intense in the effort of the atmosphere to also balance the rotational wobble of the planet. Notice that the direction of Typhoon Frank failed to be predicted by Pagasa because it did not follow the usual direction but went on an almost directly northward direction. In the recent past, the other typhoons did not hit landfall in the Philippines but went directly north towards Taiwan and Japan.

In the interim between the eclipses, we have the powerful effects of the Moon’s perigees, considered by astrologers as SuperMoons since they trigger, as well, stresses on the Earth. As Astrologer Richard Nolle wrote in 2007 “a supermoon is planetary in scale being a special alignment of Earth, Sun and Moon… there’s no place on Earth not subject to the tidal force of the perigee-syzygy.” Continuing, “of course, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions don’t go wandering all over the planet. They happen in predictable locations, like the infamous ‘Ring of Fire’ around the Pacific plate.” He also warned the “people on the coast should be prepared for extreme tidal surges. Severe storms on the other hand can strike just about anywhere, so it behooves us all to be ready for rough weather when a SuperMoon alignment forms.” The Supermoons computed for being close to the Earth (by less than 360 thousand kilometers) are on May 6, June 3, July 1 (close to New Moon), November 14 and December 12. The effects of these phenomena are expected to be felt within three days before and after their occurrences.

By August, the stress of the solar eclipse will shift to the north, close to the Arctic Circle at 80 degrees North latitude. The Earth must have tilted severely and thus the syzygy will try to correct the direction of the tilt. We can thus expect corrective planetary action of the several terrestrial layers, which are once more agitated to adjust to the new situation. By 2009, the January solar eclipse would have focused the stress somewhere in the Indian Ocean at 30 degrees South latitude. The Earth’s tilt must have been corrected somewhat.

And now the astrological forecast for the Third Quarter of 2008:

The people must have reached the peak of their repressed feelings of rage due to the high prices of commodities and shortages of rice. They may act by overt refusal to listen to authority, bordering on the very irrational.

The period, compounded by the severe weather conditions, could also bring about much sickness among the population.

The AFP and other uniformed services are not above the travails of the people, but they are tapped to undertake a number of tasks to alleviate their sufferings. The mutiny expected during the Second Quarter was quashed before it rose through tons of NFA rice made available to the soldiers’ families.

This Quarter, expect heavy expenditure in military affairs due to the various missions given to the Defense Department.

Not all is gloomy for the Quarter. In spite of the weakening of the dollar, there remains a steadying tone to the money market. The film industry and arts will develop, although there will be more sex appeal and romance exploited to give sop to a distressed people. However, outside of the industry there are still much sex crimes against women and children.

The Quarter is also an active and busy time in Congress, with legislation affecting trade, commerce and education, mostly affecting Presidential interests. Legislation will also be favorable for women and their affairs.

APRIL TO JUNE 2008

There could be great fluctuation in the revenue and on the money market, in stocks and shares, coupled with an increase of receipts in the Treasury. The weakening of the US dollar tends to give a steadying tone to the money market and the impression of an apparent improvement in the financial conditions of the country.
Programs are implemented to benefit the public health, and to improve the condition of the working classes so as to temper the unrest among them and avert strikes and closure of production. Even as efforts are also undertaken to benefit the AFP, causing heavy expenditures in military affairs, there may be no holding back in late March or early April the overt expression of unrest and the staging of mutiny in the armed forces. The EDSA “march of unity” by the generals in late February does not seem to truly reflect the sentiments of the rest of the AFP.
There could be diplomatic problems with either the United States or China or both. The Administration needs to be on guard against plots, and schemes undertaken involving foreign elements. In the society at large, there will be scandals, separations, crime and immorality in married life, and many unpleasant and disgusting episodes in the law courts.
There will be quite a number of changes in the Cabinet. As well, there will be many sudden deaths, by accident, explosion, electricity, heat, suicide, and in many strange and unaccountable ways. The deaths will be among prominent artistic and musical people.
In May, with the perigee occurring near the New Moon, the terrestrial stresses caused by the gravitational forces acting between the Earth and the Moon could trigger earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
The police will be busy not only in coping with the increase of crime and violence and maintaining order in the number of public rallies and demonstrations, but also in handling matters related to disasters.
The period may also witness fires in factories and public institutions, as well as prison riots.

I need to deal here with the fortunes of GMA. As president of the country, it is of interest what is in store for GMA this year since our Fates as a people are tied in with her. She is our Karma.
In astrology, one method of forecasting the year is to “return” her Sun on the degree it occupied at birth. I will paraphrase the language of Raphael in delineating the SR horoscope as if she is an ordinary individual. However, the influences of the factors indicated by her chart have their ramifications on her policies and actions that affect her governance and official relations even at the international level.
Although she stresses staying on as president, there will be changes in her career, whether in terms of new possibilities and opportunities. The change in social position will be accompanied by a change in associations through dissolution of a partnership or even by trial. Difficulties and conflicts are due to carelessness, or to schemes of too great a scope, and plans which are too vast. Trouble and complications are indicated, bringing unexpected strife and quarrels caused by enemies, rivals in business, intrigues, and conspiracies. Dangers of enmities are difficult to assuage.
Danger of bad news or carelessness in speech or writing will cause discord in her circle. (Her recent attempts to rationalize her participation in the signing of the NBN deal seem to worsen the issue.)
The period is generally unfavorable for journeys, as well as for beginning business enterprises or projects relying on good publicity. A desire for long travels seems to be the way to escape an existence that is not very satisfactory. A serious medical problem will be revealed forcing her to seek treatment abroad. But difficulties attend the trips, and care is required in making them.
Family matters or those involving the home dominate the year; these are mostly concerns about personal or family secrets. The influence of her family, particularly relating to her sons, is unfavorably accentuated by the positions of the planets. During the period some friends cannot be counted on; there is deception from relationships. Hopes and plans will not be realized. There is increased fatalism, and a philosophic attitude in suffering. There will be infractions, often involuntary, against laws, hence involvements with the police or disputes with the tax people.