Crisis of Confidence: Can Mars Rx Protect and Serve Americans?
A timeline provided by the Baltimore Sun tells yet another tragic American tale of undue force or negligence by police officers against our citizens. After “making eye contact” Baltimore, Maryland’s Freddie Gray (born 1990) ran from police officers beginning at 8:39 am edt on April 12, 2015, was arrested at 8:40 am and transported in a police wagon toward Central Booking (though he had done nothing illegal–he ran while black). Mr. Gray was ultimately taken to Shock Trauma arriving at 10:00 am where he remained until April 19, 2015 and where double surgeries were performed on his severed spinal cord. Mr. Gray continued in coma condition and succumbed to his injury or injuries expiring at approximately 7:00 am EDT on Sunday April 19, 2015.
Six Baltimore police officers involved have been charged in relation to Freddie Gray’s arrest and subsequent fatality from injury while in police custody.
The police-state style tragedies that continue to ‘make the news’ have reminded me of America’s natal Mars in Gemini (1776) turning retrograde @18 Libra in 2006, the exact date of the Rx station depending on which US natal horoscope is used. This uncomfortable, frustrated, distorted condition for active, energetic, forceful Mars has been problematic for our nation even before 2006 as policing Mars prepared to stop forward movement through the Zodiac and symbolically turn its energies inward–against the American people.
As you know, Mars is in detriment when in Libra for Libra is opposite Mars-ruled Aries across the Self-Other axis of Relationship; therefore, the action principle of Mars is somewhat limited by a need for cooperation from others which adds to the frustration of its Rx condition. Males between the ages of 25 and 35 (give or take a year) are represented by Mars as are police officers and men Freddie Gray, age 25, may also be described as being in varying states of frustration and limitation.
And so our citizens continue to suffer indignities, injuries, and untimely deaths such as the arrest and demise of Freddie Gray, the latest in-the-news victim of a police-related event. For with America engaged in perpetual war it seems to me a given that even without our national Mars Rx in Venus-ruled Libra we would be drenched with images and circumstances of violence, death, and mayhem as fiery Mars overhead reflects events and conditions below and the entertainment and gaming industries chime in with constantly more gory, depraved story lines. As the moral weakening of our population proceeds as planned, someone’s gotta get those ratings and sales quotas!
Chart Angle Clues: The What, Where, How, and Why of Freddie Gray’s Arrest
My sincere hope is that the family members of Freddie Gray won’t mind if I discuss here a horoscope for April 12, 2015 at 8:40 am EDT Baltimore (Gray’s arrest) for I would not wish to add to their pain in any way…my motivation is to understand.
With that in mind, here are what I consider to be a few significant chart factors:
Rising we find Venus @1Gem01 with 4Gem02 on the Ascendant, and note that 3 Gemini is a critical degree, and is also “The Garden of the Tuileries” degree in Sabian Symbols which links to violence. Mars, signifying on one level police officers, is in stubborn, intolerant Taurus, sign of the neck and throat, and sadly we must note that Mr. Gray’s spinal cord injury was in the neck area. Mars @8Tau43, Mercury @25Ari54 (“eye contact”), and the Sun @22Ari17 are all in the 12th house of secret enemies, karma, self-undoing, politics, and large institutions such as prisons. It has been reported that Freddie Gray had been arrested several times previously for possession (of drugs, one assumes) so a fear of incarceration would be an understandable motivation for running away from potential interrogation and arrest. That, and Baltimore’s history of oppressive policing which in this case has been ruled an “illegal arrest”.
Disruptive Uranus @16Ari47 has just left 12th house and entered its own Aquarian 11th house of Groups and Associations. Uranus in Mars-ruled Aries is the quite the zealous anarchist (Ebertin) and being oriental (last to rise just before the Sun) requires adventure, variety, freedom, and/or danger within the work environment (Tyl.) Also in 11th house are the South Node @9Ari55, a Saturnian point of separation, and wounded Chiron @19Pis22, unaspected and thus disconnected from the other actors (planets) in the chart which makes its energy undiluted.
In addition, if we allow a point rather than three planets in a pattern, there is a YOD (crisis; crossroad; turning point) between a Mars-Neptune sextile pointing toward NN @9Lib55 in the 5th house of Risk-Taking, Gambling, Creative Pursuits, Romance, and Children. Mars-Neptune hints at exploitation, harm, paralyzed activity (a severed spinal cord can do it as can illegal–Neptune–arrest–Mars), and/or possible drug use; with the NN of fated encounters we have potentials for negative attitudes, a weak will, or sense of suspicion. And of course, YODs tend to have health implications as well.
Ascendant = What? Now I know of the dark side of archetypal Venus, veins, venom, cravings, jealousy and all, but to see Venus in light-hearted Gemini rising made me feel sad at the image of a young man standing on a city street possibly engaging in social chatter with what may have been a lady friend–certainly a friend, acquaintance, or even a sibling–when suddenly fear arrives in the form of police officers intent on accosting him…for what? Having a legal-to-carry knife in his pocket (assuming it wasn’t planted on him during the arrest–wonder if the knife–not a switchblade as some sources erroneously reported–is known to have been his)? Was something else on his person which would again get him in trouble? Was the presence of Venus more venal than a social chat–was sex solicitation involved? (I’m only typing out loud here with such questions.)
Starkly, there is restrictive, authoritative Saturn @4Sag15 Rx setting at the Descendant (Partnerships) and opposes rising Venus, an aspect which hints at financial hardship, miserly bosses, low-wage employment, a sense of duty in relationship, and/or relationship difficulties or separations. On a societal level, the ongoing Saturn-Neptune square continues its ‘social responsibilities are burdens’ routine of whining and we hear pundits and citizens assessing the ill effects of urban neighborhood blight and lack of economic opportunity for minorities and the poor and working classes while the murder of Freddie Gray once again spotlights such problems for all the world to see–as if the world hasn’t already seen Americans being marginalized and oppressed by a growing Plutocracy class. Much is being made of the vast sums of money sent to city neighborhoods and their failing schools which makes me want to demand of our politicians where the money went–name and incarcerate the embezzlers, investigate the ‘middle men’, please!
Now if we look to the Why? Point of the April 12th chart, the Midheaven (MC), we see 11AQ19 there, Neptune @8Pis51 in the public 10th house, and two planetary midpoints conjunct MC which may help shed more light upon this saddening event being too often repeated in similar cases across the country. Yet actions and oppressive policies of certain police departments may finally be re-viewed in depth and re-calibrated with US Mars re-trograde. This would be a positive outcome, as you may agree, and We the People must continue to insist upon it.
Now the first midpoint at MC is between old order Saturn, the traditional ruler of Aquarius, and new order Uranus, what some call the modern ruler of the sign. (I call Uranus the higher octave of Saturn.) Therefore, two midpoint pictures are formed by Saturn-Uranus (rebellion, provocation, tension; curtailment of freedom or the fear of it; violent people) and the second midpoint, Neptune-Pluto (a speculative use of force, control of the masses, organized crime or criminal elements, drugs and the craving of them, whims, tricks, illusions, fraud, falsehoods, the supernatural, peculiarities, obsessions, presentiments, manias, grievous loss, concerns about death matters, self-torment) at MC.
Here are the planetary midpoint potentials when having the MC angle as an outlet for the expression of their combined energies and adding in planet Jupiter @12Leo36 (still at its Direct Station degree of April 8) in opposition and conjunct IC, the How? Point and indicator of Endings; how or to whom the potentials may or may not apply to I shall leave for you to consider:
Saturn-Uranus = MC: break away from the old; separating from others; making the highest demands upon one’s strength; rebellion. Opposing Jupiter: the misfortune to get into difficulties; losses; damage to buildings (which came later); adaptation to every situation; a sudden turn in destiny…for everyone concerned.
Neptune-Pluto = MC: self-knowledge; mystical peculiarities; high spiritual aspirations; worldly revolutions; being noticed by others; adjusting personal ambitions; pushing ahead to make life better for those you care for. Opposing Jupiter adds: an increased need to find a better way to spend your life; improvement of your mental state by neglecting others; expanded desire to enjoy a better future; social or political pressure (arrest quotas?); religiousness; a peace-loving disposition (Venus in Gemini?); sectarians.
As for the Moon (physical body; moods and trends) in Saturn-ruled Capricorn, sign of law, business, and government–and ambition–we find Luna in 9th house @27Cap03, the precise degree of America’s natal Pluto, planet of obsessive control, subversion, and assassination. The Moon-Pluto pair denotes such potentials as emotional upheavals and shock, the pursuit of selected objectives with fanatical zeal and their attainment without any regard for other people (police policies and arrest quotas?), impulsive actions, offended vanity or conceit, deep but one-sided feelings; encouragement of violence or crime; public feelings about crime; obsessions which bring misuse of available resources; conflicting feelings about using violence as a means of control; public relations, and more.
And of course, transit Pluto now plods through Capricorn, breaking down systems of law, government, and business, toppling leaders and heads of state, and transforming societies as Mr. Underworld slowly returns to his original degree in America’s natal horoscope (27Cap33). Yippee.
Now these are only the chart factors that ‘popped out’ at yours truly as I looked at the arrest horoscope and you are certain to find others and to disagree with my assessment. However, I shall attempt to sum up my What? (ASC), Where? (Desc), Why? (MC) and How? (IC) analysis of the illegal arrest of Mr. Freddie Gray, then add a sad note or two concerning his death based on a chart set for April 19, 2015 7:00 am EDT Baltimore, MD.
What? Venus in chatty Mercury-ruled Gemini rising: Freddie Gray arrested.
Where? Authority and law-imposing Saturn in Sagittarius, ruled by freedom-loving Jupiter = off to Central Booking in leg shackles…lock up!
Why? see Saturn-Uranus and Neptune-Pluto = MC, above.
How? by Jupiter in Leo, ruler of the 8th house of Death, opposing the above midpoints and denoting severe policies implemented and enforced for political and ideological reasons and which lead to family disruptions (4th house) and, in this case, the threat of loss of freedom, and death–by neglect or design–with an angular Jupiter expanding such tragic potentials.
By April 19, 2015, a hospitalized Freddie Gray had been through two surgeries to no avail. He lost his struggle at about 7:00 am on that date with 10Tau44 rising (neck and throat) along with Mercury @9Tau22 and Mars @13Tau46 snugged about the Ascendant. Mercury-Mars = crime and violence in the news, angry opinions expressed (on behalf of a victim unable to speak for himself–Mars severs, Mercury communicates and reports), involvement in lawsuits. Their combined energies at ASC = turbulent or stormy proceedings.
The 12th house Moon had left Capricorn and passed through Aquarius, Pisces, and Aries, joining Mercury and Mars in Taurus on that morning (8Tau13 conjunct ‘arrest’ Mars). The Sun is at a critical-crisis 29th degree of Aries as his vitality (Sun) ended having just passed the 28Ari25 lunation of April 18th at 2:57 pm EDT, a New Moon. Note that the 3-day lead-up prior to a New Moon is a darkened phase when shady or secluded things may occur, and endings and separations tend to happen as a new cycle of activity is about to begin. And note that a significant New Moon in a mundane chart can act in similar fashion to a disruptive Solar Eclipse–both are New Moons (Ovason).
Now since death horoscopes tend to have certain planets at angles of the chart, here we see malevolent Mars rising at the Ascendant in Taurus, the sign of throat and neck, along with the Taurean Moon, plus, a Taurean Mercury the Messenger in attendance as well. Notably, the 8th house of Death is ruled by Jupiter which is placed in the 4th house of End of Life and ruled by the Moon. Venus, formerly the rising planet, is now @9Gem04 conjunct the 2nd house cusp and asteroid Midas. Once again I shall leave it for you, dear reader, to decide the implications of such a placement in what seems to be the wrongful death of Mr. Freddie Gray.
May he Rest in Peace as others speak and act justly on his behalf. For, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye did it unto Me.” (Matt 25:40.)
~:~
Midpoints from Ebertin, Munkasey, and Tyl; all, some, or none may apply and are subject to future transits and progressions.
