News reports claim as many as 2,500 are dead and 800,000 homeless in the Philippines (at the time of this post) due to the super typhoon that hit this country Friday, November 7, 2013. Super Typhoon Haiyan stuck the Philippines Thursday, November 8, 2013 leveling villages, towns and leaving behind a wake of death and destruction. God bless those dead, injured and waiting for help, along with their friends and families and the many pets who were killed or left homeless.
Like people, countries have charts and the chart for the Philippines is set for July 4, 1946 at 9:15 a.m. Astrologer Nicholas Champion wrote, "Independence was granted by the USA on July 4, 1946. The critical moment was the lowering of the American flag at (:15 a.m. and the hoisting of the Philippine flag."
Thus, the Sun in the Philippine chart is at 11 degrees of Cancer lying in the 11th house along with Saturn. (the US is also a Cancer ruled country). Saturn in Cancer in the 11th house shows a respect for law and order and governs authority and tradition but Saturn is considered at its detriment in Cancer, meaning the energy doesn't work well here.
The Philippine chart has a 2 degree Virgo ascendant, and a moon at 15 degrees of Virgo that describes the hard working, sensible people, along with Mars at 7 degrees of Virgo.
Three planets, Mercury, Pluto and Venus lie in the twelfth house ruled by Leo, describing elements that are secret and hidden and issues and activities that could be considered subversive, corrupt or hidden. The 12th house is considered unfortunate and can sometimes indicate death related circumstances when aspected.
Neptune and Jupiter in Libra lie in the second house of national wealth and income and Jupiter trines Uranus in the tenth house describing the leader of the country and his/her ties to national wealth.Philippines' political culture is dynastic, and local officials are often related to each other by blood, exacerbating income inequality among the masses, along with women in the Philippines. Filipino working women are paid 76 per cent of what their male counterparts get, indicating that despite growth and development there is still a significant gap in opportunities for men and women in the Philippines. (source: World Bank)
Uranus rules electronics, and it's trine to Jupiter in the second house shows a population partial to this industry, which is the largest commercial industry in the islands. But, Uranus squares the moon showing us a history of unrest among the people and changes in Government.
All of the planets in the Philippine chart fall on the Eastern side of the chart denoting apopulation that thrives in the give and take of work and who make many of their own opportunities in life.
Major astrological conditions of November 7, 2013 when the typhoon hit
On November 7, 2013 the Uranus-Pluto square fell on the natal Sun in the Philippine chart at 9 degrees of Aries-Capricorn and within 4 degrees of Neptune in the second house of finance and resources. This shows us a calamity of some type is likely and Capricorn is often related to the Earth. This is one of several major disasters in the world that has occurred since Uranus entered Aries. The U-P square falling on a second house planet shows economic disaster.
The Philippine chart has a natal ascendant at 2 degrees of Virgo. Neptune was opposing the ascendant exact, at two degrees of Pisces and was/is more powerful as it is turns direct on November 13. Neptune is at home in Pisces and rules seawater.
Saturn has squared Mercury and Pluto in the 12th house and was still within orb at 14 degrees of Venus. It is/was approaching an exact square to Venus at 18 degrees of Leo showing loss/death, lack of resources. Until Saturn crosses Venus mid December it is likely to be in a state of extreme crisis, and probable even beyond this date. This transit will return next year.
Mars was at 13 degrees of Virgo and within 2 degrees of squaring the moon, showing an upset among the population/homes. Major disasters are generally associated with the outer transits being close or exact in aspect, and often occur on a Mars transit. Earthquakes are sometimes associated with the sign Virgo and an earthquake rocked the Philippines November 12.
November 7, Jupiter, the planet of gain and financestarted its stationary retrograde at 4:12 p.m.
On November 7, at approximately 2 p.m. the moon in Capricorn fell close to natal Pluto and square Neptune in Libra. The Moon conjunct Pluto is sometimes a disastrous combination if other transits are present and can indicate death and destruction at times. The moon in Capricorn set off the Uranus-Pluto square and it was exact.
The solar eclipse of November 3, conjunct Saturn squared the three 12th house planets: Mercury, Pluto and Venus. Events were delayed as Mercury was retrograde, but this eclipse shows disaster.
On November 7, the Sun was conjunct Saturn in Scorpio, exact on November 6. This is a difficult transit that occurs one day out of the year, and it concerns limitations and restrictions. Scorpio is the natural ruler of the eighth house of death/ transformation and Scorpio is co-ruled by Pluto, the planet of destruction.