The most important transit of the year, and perhaps the most important planetary alignment of the decade becomes exact April 2014. The grand cross peaks the third week of April 2014. This aspect does not have to be exact for events to occur.A grand cross is a rare configuration shaped like an X, that involves two 180 degree oppositions, and four 90 degree squares that plays off the energy of all the planets involved.
In this case we are dealing with Uranus in Aries (revolutions, sudden, unexpected, explosive and shocking events and change), Pluto in Capricorn (regeneration, death and change beyond personal control, bullies, unabated power of all kinds, secret agendas, nuclear energy and power, earth related weather or manmade events, Jupiter in Cancer (home, family, money, expansion, the homeland taking on greater importance), Mars in Libra (action, war, strife, military)and even Mercury in Aries (communication, young people, transport).
The grand cross affects the charts of many people-about half or more of those I speak with, the United States chart, and the charts of many other countries as well. So, we know this aspect will bring societal change in many respects to large masses of people. Changes will occur on two levels: change in the world or the collective, and change personally to individuals. This first article deals with change occurring in the collective, and the Part 11 will deal with changes we will experience as individuals, which may or may not involve the collective experience.
As all of the planets involved are in Cardinal signs and events will be significant and immediate. Aries deals with the first house and the personal will of ourselves and others. Libra rules others than ourselves, partners of all types, and rules the 7th house of open enemies and courts. Capricorn rules the 10th house of business and it is tied into the earth itself, and here we have another view of the types of situations this transit will bring.
I do not believe this aspect will bring one event, but rather many events escalating around the same time, although there may be one that stands out among others. As the buildup of this powerful transit continues over the next 6 weeks and beyond, we are currently seeing related events occurring now and will continue to do so until the aspect peaks in April, and after. The upheaval and subsequent removal of government in the Ukraine and ongoing conflict with Russia is one such example of what this most powerful aspect will bring to the collective.
Uranus-Jupiter relates to extreme conditions and situations involving weather or earth related changes, money can be made or lost overnight, and countries and entities can break apart suddenly as we are currently seeing in Kiev. Uranus rules and involves aircraft, technology and revolts, sudden changes and freedom.
Uranus-Pluto deals with agendas that are extreme in nature (such as the bill that was vetoed in Arizona allowing gays and others to be banned/turned away from private businesses) financial cycles, and the rise of specific agendas, propaganda campaigns, violence and terrorism in the world.
The effects of the square between Pluto and Uranus have been ongoing since Uranus entered Aries in 2010, but this time we add to the mix Jupiter, Mars and Mercury.The eclipses of April will set off the events of the grand cross.
For the first time in the history of the United States the grand cross falls on the Sun of the United States with Pluto opposing the US Sun.
In January 1934, we experienced a grand square between Uranus, Pluto and Jupiter in Aries, Cancer and Aries at 23 degrees of these cardinal signs. It did not however aspect the US natal Sun. It is important to look at the events that occurred during that time, and it was an important year that planted the seeds of what would come over the next decade, and the world was never the same again.
That year Hitler came into power becoming Furher over Germany and police forces in Germany were consolidated under the jurisdiction of Heinrich Himmler the avowed Nazi who condemned thousands to death in the death camps of Auschwitz. We could see the rise of another such type of individual in the world during this period.
The Dust Bowl removed great quantities of topsoil across the American West, damaging farms, crop production, and livestock ruining 300 million acres of farmland and we are at risk now of extreme weather conditions that we have already experienced in terms of a cold winter, and more extremes will follow.
The New Deal in 1934 led to the establishment of the Securities Exchange commission by Franklin Roosevelt which began a series of banking reforms, as well as the Federal Communications regulating broadcasting, and Bonnie and Clyde were killed. These are only a few instances of this pivotal time in history before WW11, and now is equally pivotal.
In early 1934 Roosevelt devalued the dollar.Numerous individuals and companies were prosecuted related to President Roosevelt's Executive Order 6102. Prosecutions occurred under subsequent Executive Orders 6111, 6260, 6261 and the Gold Reserve Act of 1934 that prohibited the hoarding of gold.
China's central bank has engineered the recent decline in the country's currency as part of its efforts to prepare for wider trading, according to the Wall Street Journal. With fewer speculators trading the yuan, China intends to challenge the dollars role, and sees freeing its currency as a step to getting there, according to the story.
Why should you be interested in China? Because this is indicative of the types of change we will see worldwide and no man, woman or country is an island, and the Grand Cross affects the world and everyone in it, one way or another if you live among civilization.
Take a look at the political cartoons I have reproduced on this page from 1934. Notice the issues discussed are the same as today: government overspending, market manipulation, questions over the constitution and government regulations, blaming capitalists for financial woes and spending. Astrological cycles are cyclical and eventually repeat themselves. The question is: how much have we learned since the 1930's and how far will we go to prevent history from repeating itself on more than one level.
The grand square of 1934fell at 23 degrees of Aries,Cancer and Libra. In April 2014 the grand cross falls at 13 degrees of Capricorn opposing on the Sun in the US natal chart. Pluto is the ultimate planet of transformation and regeneration.Pluto opposed Venus (US natal chart) in 2008-10 bringing on the 'Great Recession," or the financial meltdown of the banks, and it opposed Jupiter 2010-2012 when we continued to see high unemployment, anger and the splintering of the Republican party. Pluto's opposition to the US Sun becomes exact April 12-June 5, December 28, 2014-January 25, 2015, July 25, 2015-September 14, October 6, 2015-January 30, 2016. Uranus will also be square the US Sun within a few degrees December 2014 as well, creating another grand square between three planets again.
Astrologer Celeste Teal writes, "This Grand Cross stimulates the Solar Eclipse of January 2011 that fell at 13 Capricorn. Eclipses in Cardinal signs are known for bringing a focus to national affairs and to the business world, when the business world is often depressed or disturbed." Pluto is currently at 13 degrees, stimulating the effects of that eclipse.
April 2014 will represent the only time the grand cross is formed with Jupiter and Mars. In 2015 during the final Pluto opposition to the US Sun, Saturn will be square Neptune. This transit is related to political reforms and according to the famed astrologer Barbault, and this is a cycle governing the development of socialism/communism.
In mundane astrology the Sun represents the President and government. It represents the way a nation expresses itself, and the way foreigners view the nation. In a way it is the 'soul' of a country. This will be an important time for government, which will be under pressure, and for the President who may face additional risks and opposition from his 'partners,' which includes Congress and others.
Pluto represents that which is subversive, corrupt, hidden and secretive in society. Pluto rules secret police, organized crime, secret agencies and societies, and what Jung called 'psychotic outbreaks of the collective unconscious.' It also rules nuclear weapons and energy, bullies and unmitigated power, including power of governments unrestrained, nuclear weapons and energy, and major transformation.
As the transit takes the form of an opposition the crisis will come from an outside force, or forces. Looking at past countries/civilizations Pluto-Sun oppositions either bring transformation as a result of deep internal and external change over time with opposition and purging of that which is destructive, or a complete collapse compared to what was known before. Sometimes Pluto goes through a phase of destruction and tearing down, then later rebuilding in a stronger way. Either way, the United States and its government will go through a transformative process the likes of which we have not seen before. Sometimes this transit takes the form of what some call creative destruction.
Two charts most commonly used for the US are the Sibley Chart (Sagittarius rising) and the Gemini rising chart. Looking at the Sibley Chart the US Sun falls in the seventh house ruling foreign relations, and is typically considered the house of 'open enemies,' showing us a conflict brewing with an enemy that is known. As the grand cross also affects the chart of Russia, this may well represent one such entity. Using the Gemini chart the Sun falls in the second house which rules incomes and money.
Either way this transit shows the potential of financial upheaval, potential banking reforms-situations, economic issues and challenging conditions that will be worldwide in nature.
"Under the current transit, the structures of power (Pluto in Capricorn) are challenged by the fresh vision, the new beginnings of Uranus in Aries. Politically, it’s not usually very pleasant. Sometimes, where there is great potential within the current forms, Uranus-Pluto can represent not a dissolution but an empowerment, dramatic growth, as we have seen with China."- Astrologer Barry Goddard
Looking at the lunar eclipse chart for April 15, 3:42 a.m., Washington, DC, the moon falls in the eighth house and there is a focus on the 8th/2nd house axis which rules death and mortality, international banking and finance, and earned income with a focus on unexpected situations through the end of the month. We will see arguments, debates and police or military action in the world and explosive events. Unexpected news will be the norm, and there could be problems with transport, young people and communication-technology.
This eclipse falls on the karmic nodal axis, showing the potential for reaping what has been sown in terms of the past as a nation.
The ascendant is 18 degrees Aquarius and the ascendant ruler Saturn (and Uranus) makes no aspects, but lies in the ninth house showing a staunch belief system and philosophical views.
Uranus lies in the second house of income, banking, bonds, currency, conjunct Mercury showing the rapid flow of information, or a propaganda campaign, potential issues with transport, communications and technology, a focus on young people. It opposes Mars in the eighth house of death, taxes, transformation, bringing arguments, debates, explosions, and accidents. The eighth house also rules mortgages, and financial relations with other countries and this is a major theme.America's credit could become a theme-issue as well.
Uranus- Jupiter brings unforeseen events, impracticality, potential issues regarding aircraft, idealism, sudden gains and losses and possible news relating to technology. Financial markets may fluctuate.
The grand cross affects the 11th house, ruling Congress and institutions, foreign affairs, the nations long term hopes, the 2ond house ruling income and wealth, and the 5th house of children and young people, and the eighth house of taxes, death, and transformation.
Pluto is especially powerful at this time as it is stationary having turned retrograde only 7 hours, 54 minutes prior to the eclipse. Agendas will become apparent.
Neptune and Venus in the first house bring to the forefront the question of lies, fraud and deception along with a lack of clarity and truthfulness as events are unfolding. Neptune rules water, oceans, rivers, and oil and gas and we could see situations arise that relate to water during this period.
The Jupiter-Pluto opposition lies across The United States 1st-7th house axis (Sibley chart) of self and others, or open enemies, and chows a monumental struggle between us and them, or other entities in the world as well as challenges in political, financial, social and military realms.
Issues that will likely come to the forefront include: New regulatory cycles relating to banking-finance, issues and volatility among financial markets, extreme weather-earth related changes and situations, the rise of violence and terrorism, Governments overstepping their authority and crackdowns on populations of people by governments, terrorist and military attacks, news relating to nuclear weapons, political splits, hidden agendas unveiled, attacks and accidents, news related to Edward Snowden and government spying on citizens, attacks by and on terrorists, events relating to crime and organized crime, concern over taxes/wealth, accidents and attacks, political and sociological upheaval, concerns for and about the President.
The April 29 solar eclipse falls in Taurus, the sign ruling income, and the earth itself. I will write more about it in an upcoming issue.
While the grand cross of April will change the world, it will change the lives of all of those whose personal charts it affects, and that will be the subject of my next blog.
Following is a list of Important dates that involve the grand cross. We will see significant events occur in the world on these dates, and in your personal life if the grand cross is prominent in your chart:
March 30-New moon in Aries sets off the grand cross
April 1-Sun squares Jupiter
April 2-Sun conjuncts Uranus
April 3-Sun squares Pluto
April 8-Sun opposes Mars
April 11-Venus conjuncts Neptune
April 14-Mercury squares Jupiter, Mercury conjuncts Uranus, Pluto goes stationary direct at 7:44 p.m. EST
April 15- full moon lunar eclipse 25 degrees Libra, Mercury squares Pluto
April 16-Mercury opposes Mars
April 20-Jupiter squares Uranus, opposes Pluto
April 21-Uranus squares Pluto
April 22-Mars squares Jupiter
April 23- Mars opposes Uranus, squares Pluto
April 25-Sun conjuncts Mercury
April 28-29-Solar eclipse 8 degrees Taurus
May 2-Mercury opposes Saturn
