Mars and Saturn Tours Virgo A Mega Research by Margaret George
Article by Margaret George
The major conjunctions with outer planets usually flag important historical events, the most recent being the Pluto/Jupiter conjunction in Sagittarius. In 2008 there are three aspects worth studying: the Neptune conjunct North Node in Aquarius on 4th May, Saturn in Virgo opposite Uranus on 4th November, and Saturn/Mars conjunction, occurring in Virgo in July. Saturn regularly conjuncts Mars but the combination in Virgo happens approximately every thirty two years, though from 1742 to 1745 there were no less than four conjunctions in Virgo due to the retrograde motion of these planets, and the effect will be explored as this story unfolds.
The following study shows how this combination in tropical sign Virgo has affected mostly the European scene mostly due to a broader scope covering the whole world events would be too lengthy to incorporate in such a feature as this. However after reading this study many astrologers might find it interesting to conduct one on similar lines of their own world region.
In July 2008 we see this Saturn Mars partnership repeating for the first time since 1980, when significantly Mgabwe came to power in Zimbabwe/Rhodesia. Iran and Iraq were at war in 1980, and Lech Walesa confronted the communists in power in Poland.
Of course events have moved on since then, or have they? Certainly in Poland things have changed radically, and Iraq still suffers from war torn events with political and religious turmoil still undermining its peace, stability and relationship with neighbouring Iran. Incidentally, Iran itself is still a major contender for conflict with its nuclear programme causing worldwide controversy. Mgabwe still hangs on to power and the whole region is now embroiled in turmoil as even Kenya suffers from internal strife if not civil war. This authors own researches indicate other planetary issues such as the Pluto Jupiter conjunction rather than the Saturn Mars conjunction at play with the African unrest.
C E O Carter, a notable English astrologer at the turn of the nineteenth century tells us that the Saturn/ Mars conjunctions are serious ”and produce war, rioting, murder, danger to kings and governments of the countries ruled by the sign these two planets are placed in.’’ Events regulated or coinciding with this conjunction normally are felt in months leading up to it, and two years beyond it.
Virgo
Virgo is the sign of careful consideration, attention to detail and it relates to medical and health care, health spas, administration of medicinal value such as hygiene and health regimes generally, as well as being the sign ruling administrative systems specifically. It is also associated with disputes and their settlement via legal contracts and agreements. It also has a reputation for association with the letter and the spirit of the law, a matter which will become clearer as this research unfolds.
What is also crucial to this sign is the fact it rules service, the workforce and conditions of work, so no wonder we see traces of socialism associated with it as we explore the alliance of Saturn and Mars sojourn in Virgo. Saturn rules the common man, his toil, servants and those who work in extremely dangerous and often dirty jobs such as mining. Mars rules leaders, so it is no surprise that Lord Russell emerges during this research with a classic quote, given later, which breathtakingly conveys the ultimate effect of two malefics influencing the working man. Lord Russell was a leader, fighting for the rights of the common man in his parliamentary reform bill.
Countries Ruled by Virgo
Virgo rules Turkey, Switzerland, West Indies, Assyria (ancient name for the north-eastern part of modern Iraq, situated on the east bank of the Tigris) Babylonia, a state of modern Iraq formerly known as the ‘Gate of God’ home of Babylonian courts, Crete, Croatia, Silesia (between Czech Republic and Poland) Morea-S Greece, Thessaly-central Greece, Lavadia, another Greek area, Virginia, Brazil.
Towns ruled by Virgo
Jerusalem, Corinth, many French regions including Paris, Cheltenham Norwich, Maidstone, Bury, Todmorden and Reading in the UK, Heidelberg/ Wurttenberg, Strasburg and Brindisi–in Puglia Italy, Boston, Los Angeles
Of course Virgo is opposite Pisces a sign which the two planets will aspect very prominently, and the aspect is supposed to be more profound than the occupation of planets, so we can expect these countries and towns ruled by Pisces to be influenced as well
Countries ruled by Pisces
Portugal, Calabria, Galicia, Normandy, Nubia, Sahara desert
Towns and Cities ruled by Pisces
Alexandria, Ratisbon, Worms, Seville Compostella, Bournemouth, Tiverton, Christchurch, Cowes, Regensburg, Grimsby, Southport, Lancaster, King’s Lynn, Preston.
Before continuing with an analysis of how the conjunction affects these places, as well as presenting a view of other mundane affairs that coincide with this celestial event, an irony occurs which psychologist Jung would call a synchronicity of events. At the exact time 4th January 12.00 mid day, of word processing this piece Grimsby (West Yorkshire England) area , ruled by Pisces, is in the news due to an old world war bomb being exploded under control, just nearby the M62 motorway outside Hull at Howden. It is not being suggested that bombs are associated with Saturn Mars conjunct in Virgo, in fact what we did find is that major world wars did not only not coincide with this combination, but that they were more likely to have ended just before one occurred.
The fact this bomb is found fifty years after it had been dropped in the last war, but never exploded gives testimony to the fact that although riots, battles and rebellions arose during the Saturn Mars union, major devastation was somehow not experienced on a global scale, and it would seem not on a regional scale in the Yorkshire district! Such is the care and consideration of Virgoan influence. In addition Hull is ruled by Scorpio, according to Raphael, and we would expect this sign to be highlighted by the Moon bringing it under media attention today as the bomb is exploded, and sure enough the Moon is in Scorpio. A coincidence to some, but a meaningful and expected influence for astrologers, who also know that Saturn is currently aspecting the sign Scorpio where the Moon is transiting at this event. In addition the rulers of Scorpio are Mars, traditionally, but also co ruler Pluto is taken into account, and these two planets are directly opposite each other on the day of the explosion, both in aspect with the North Node in airy Aquarius, which rules the gases likely to be ignited and created at the time of exploding the bomb.
The UK gas industry was nationalised in 1949 when again Saturn and Mars were in Virgo illustrating even further the coincidence of celestial and terrestrial phenomena which has guided astrologers for centuries. We can expect more headline news of the gas industry in the year ahead, and certainly more contracts being demanded for how this industry delivers its service to the general public.
The study of the recurrence of this planetary configuration of Mars/ Saturn together in Virgo yielded a rather banal list of results which even C E O Carter remarked upon when studying the Virgo era and historical cycles, in his book on mundane astrology ” The Virgo epoch…seems obscurely characterised. One might expect extensive famines and pestilences….”
Personally this authors research shows ”pestilences ” associate more with Mars Uranus combinations than with Virgo and Saturn – Mars, but that’s another story……………..Certainly one agrees that Saturn Mars is a little droll and devoid of any outstanding feature, unlike the Saturn in Leo opposite Mars in Aquarius feature that was circulated to my astrology associates in 2007. However if one single type of circumstance can be assigned to this astrological event then it is that treaties, alliances and the emergence of new and perhaps fairer democratic and even royal and aristocratic truces and agreements can be tracked to coincide with it.
Minor Battles and Feuds
Also coinciding with the configuration are many battles involving religious divides mainly amongst Protestant and Catholic rulers and sometimes even Moslem rule. Here is a brief list of some of the feuds, revolts and invasions which coincide with the years of Saturn with Mars in Virgo:
Catholics fighting Protestants in Switzerland 1656
Maritime feud between Spain and England 1568 (England is ruled by Mars and won this battle) these two countries also engaged in war in 1656
In 1597 there was an Irish rebellion, but I suspect this connected mostly to Saturn conjunct Ketu (Dragons Tail). The rebellion was lead by the Earl of Tyrone.
Turks defeated Hungary 1568
Catholics defeated by Protestants 1626 at the battle of Desau.
Christians defeated by Protestants at the Battle of Lutter 1626 leading us to believe that this conjunction favours the latter!
Portugal ruled by Pisces defeated the Dutch hold over Brazil 1654.
Venetians routed the Turks in the Dardanelles in 1656, while in a turnaround of power Vienna was a besieged by Turks in 1683 the year before the next conjunction, making you wonder if the Turks would have been less successful if they had left it till Mars conjoined Saturn in 1684? They may have felt victory in 1683 but it was the last major Turkish attack on Europe.
Revolts include the peasant revolt in Russia in 1773; Saturn rules Russia and peasants or common people, whilst Mars is significator of rebellion which is why we also saw the Boston Tea Party revolt in 1773 when tea was dumped in Boston Harbour.
Guiseppe Mazzini formed ‘Young Italy’ in 1831, a new revolutionary movement, and it would not be polite or judicious to leave out the death of socialist leader Rosa Luxembourg who was murdered at the 1919 conjunction.
The word socialist was first coined in 1831 when Saturn the workers met Mars the leaders in Virgo………and became the new movers and shakers of democratic reform………..
The Holy Roman Emperor got drawn into many major events during the conjunctions:-
The Holy League was formed by Pope Innocent X1 and united against the Turks in 1684, echoing the alliance of H.R.E with Denmark and Russia in 1656 when war on Sweden was declared.
Pope Clements X1V suppressed the Jesuits 1773 and in 1742 Charles VIII became Holy Roman Emperor, while at the 1745 conjunction Francis I replaced him.
By the 1831 configuration Gregory XVI was the new Pope and the title of Holy Roman Emperor had been lost in the oblivion of major changes on the map of Europe and the world. The last Holy Roman Emperor had been Francis II appointed in 1806, three years after the 1803 August conjunction.
Treaties, Truces, Alliances and Organisations
Mostly alliances and treaties, agreements and new administrative starts formed as a result of overthrown rulers and regimes characterise this particular astro event. Sixth house, ruled by Virgo is where we can see debts, mortgages and contractual obligations played out in a chart. Some of the main treaties coinciding with the celestial event include:-
Treaty of Berlin between Prussia and Austria 1742
Holy League formed by Pope Innocent X1 1684, uniting Venice, Austria and Poland.
Truce of Nice between France and Spain 1538, Treaty of Restatt and Baden between France/Austria which cedes Spanish Netherlands to Austria in 1714.
Treaty of Abo between Sweden and Russia 1743, followed by the Treaty of Dresden 1745 between Prussia and Austria, at which stage an alliance between Austria, Britain and the Netherlands against Prussia was established.
The Peace Conference in Paris after the First World War happened in 1919 and saw an end to some European conflicts. Saturn and Mars in Virgo in October 1919 was strongly tempered by the occurrence of their opposition earlier in January in Leo/Aquarius which happened the same month this conference met.
We are not sure what we can deduce from this historic lesson of negotiating power at the time of Saturn opposite Mars, but it does seem Saturn with Mars in Virgo is a better influence for creating more long lasting alliances perhaps?
NATO treaty of 1949 furthered alliance between European countries in order to try and settle once and for all the distribution of boundaries and power in Europe. By May 1st 1949 six months before Saturn and Mars line up in Virgo, no less than 10 major powers met in London at the ‘Council of Europe’ to agree how power can be shared amongst their nations in an attempt to reconcile cultural differences across Europe once and for all.
Sadly Russia reneged on this agreement by not allowing countries under its occupation to go ahead with their independence and democratic functions, and at the return of this partnership of the two planets in Virgo, Russia still tries to dominate the region, even though many countries under its control have now gained full independence of its administration. Russia is still fighting to maintain a position of power, and in 2008 we will witness more attempts by this country to dominate the European scene. Already it is using its gas supply as a lever to ‘bribe’ neighbouring ‘free’ countries, and this type of manipulation will certainly continue in the year ahead.
Major impact of ‘echo’ conjunctions 1742-1745
Planets repeat formations in signs at certain stages of their cycles, as if to emphasise their combined influence on that part of the ecliptic path, and to make sure their influence is felt most strongly at that epoch. Scribe calls these repeat conjunctions, ‘Echo’ conjunctions.
From 1742-1745 there were no less than four echo conjunctions of the two planets in Virgo and this brought a significant result for the countries which now form the UK, and which as 2008 arrives are devolving to the former independent rule of that era. This ‘echo’ heralds major historic events and signals significant build up of activity to turning points, or resolution watersheds which transforms the mundane scene and pinpoints cyclic events. For the sake of brevity the following account shows how Britain then the UK fared at this epoch:-
In 1743 King George had become the last British King to command the army on the field, while 1742 saw the fall of Walpole the first Prime Minister of Britain. In 1745 the Brits were defeated by the French in the war of Austrian succession, but retaliated when they captured Loisburg, a French fortress in Canada.
England had its own internal problems as the Jacobite rebellion raged under the Young Pretender, Prince Charles Edward in 1745, who was fighting to claim his perceived right to the thrones of England, Ireland and Wales.
Oddly as the next configuration of 2008 approaches for Saturn/ Mars in Virgo a quiet revolution has already taken place with Ireland and Scotland having their own assemblies along with Wales, and poor old England not having its own national assembly to fight on behalf of its own national interest.
Impact on England’s natal Chart Need chart with transits
The chart for England is triggered quite acutely by the Saturn Mars partnership in Virgo, as it is in the house of legal agreements, alliances and treaties in natal sixth of England’s 1066 chart at the crowning of King William. In England’s chart we have Saturn and Jupiter in Virgo, both retrograde, showing that the transit for both malefics Saturn and Mars in sixth house of England’s chart can upset the balance of beneficial administrative and legislative power established in 1066. Uranus also aspects this house from Pisces, and is in mutual reception with Neptune signalling the change as well as the confusion which is arising and discrepancy in equality of power distribution amongst the four nations.
Walpole was a ‘Whigamore’ the name given to the earlier rebellious Scottish rebels. The Liberal Party succeeded this reformist political party, and as we approach the 2008 celestial event, they too recently saw their Scot leader Campbell ‘fall’ and replaced by Clegg their new English leader.
By the 1831 conjunction the Tories became the conservatives who were in a strong position to vie with the Whigs for power. Lord Peel defined the Conservative aims in his 1831 Tamworth manifesto, so 2008 will see the Conservatives very strongly defining new policies ready for the next general election, which according to this author’s research can only happen after December 2008.
Parliamentary reform was first officially initiated by Lord John Russell. Lord Russell is famed for this very Saturn/Mars in Virgo statement:’’ What a pity that he who steals a penny loaf should be hung, whilst he who steals thousands of the public money should be acquitted.” Very little in terms of administering fairness has been significantly achieved this past 100 years, as this kind of inequality can still be witnessed and is often lampooned in our newspapers today.
Russell’s 1831 reform bill intended to reduce bribery and corruption of the electoral system, and although M.P’s were subsequently allowed salaries for their parliamentary work, it seems ironic that at this return of Saturn /Mars in Virgo partnership democracy, bribery and corruption, as well as huge discrepancies in punishments meted out to those poor stealing a little and the wealthy involved in corruption of huge amounts, still abound in our culture today, in spite of Lord Russell’s attempts to stop it. Currently, by January 2008 not only have we seen the demise of Blair, scandalously the first PM to be questioned by police while in office in connection with corrupt party funding issues, we still have a huge scandal raging in the UK about how MP’s are funded and why they have not declared these financial interests in the lawfully prescribed manner. It shows how those in power are capable of talking their way out of corruption charges as though position grants them immunity from wrong-doing, while those caught for minor misdemeanours are made to pay heavily for their comparatively minor and often trivial transgressions.
Expect more of this and new legislation to counteract it throughout 2008………..
This is a very Virgoan event as Virgo is about perfection through attention to the spirit and the letter of the law, and it would seem while some politicians opine they have followed what they thought was the letter of the law, they have failed to abide by the transparency and honesty intended by full adherence to the spirit of the law which would exactingly demand full attention to detail. Many use lack of attending to this detail as a defence to obfuscate intention, but those who starve or are still left to steal a crust are not allowed to use starvation, genuine illness or homelessness as a justification for theirs. This is a classic manifestation of the poor and lowly represented by Saturn being attacked by the Mars influence in Virgo the sign of the worker.
New Establishments and Administrations
What is reassuring is the number of administrations beginning a new regime under the auspices of Saturn—planet of administration, and Mars in Virgo, the sign of treaties, agreements and administering. See the following for an understanding of what kind of measure we can see put in place in those areas currently suffering from civil and internecine strife this past few years:-
1803 Ohio the 17th State of USA was sold to the US by the French who had helped America overthrow the rule of British, and by 1861 Abraham Lincoln became the First President of the US. (Ohio was poetically the first stop for the electioneering for the 2008 US presidential elections in January 2008)
A new start for royal role began when in 1743 King George 11 became the last British King to command the army in the field, though we recently saw Prince Harry attempt to engage in the Iraq war in the face of mass opposition by the British public and the establishment, who undoubtedly were reluctant to see him exposed to danger. (Coincidentally since first writing this Harry did end up fighting in Iraq after all will he be the last British Prince to do so?)
Belgium became independent in 1831 and Leopold of Saxe Coburg became its first King.
Victor Immanuel was proclaimed King of Italy by the First Italian Parliament in 1861 the same year that the emancipation of Russian serfs begins.
By 1891 Brazil became united
The Dutch are busy under this configuration and in 1626 they founded the Transvaal in South Africa, while in 1626 they found New Amsterdam now Manhattan Island.
Discoveries, Medical Findings, and Inventions
There are very few if any medical discoveries or major scientific ones, and major disasters are confined to a huge train crash in Poland at the 1980 celestial event, when a passenger and freight train collided at Torun, killing 62 people and injuring many more besides. We expect some more rail and transport disasters this coming year, as Saturn aspects Gemini the sign of such transport systems, but Jupiter also aspects this sign so hopefully bringing fewer casualties than we would otherwise expect.
As far as inventions go the 1656 combination saw the invention of the pendulum clock, and 1861 brought some nice hygienic linoleum! The configuration of 1714 however takes the biscuit, so to speak, as it ironically brought the Mercury thermometer, and as even learner astrologers know, Virgo is ruled by the planet Mercury……….pure poetry to say the least.
Explorations at this astrological event include navigation of Peru 1530-1538, but oddly Francisco Pizarro the explorer STOPPED his exploration of Peru just before 1538 when the two planets met in Virgo.
In 1596 while Turkey defeated Hungary, Spitsbergen was discovered by Dutchman Willem Barents; in 1773 Cook crossed the Antarctic Circle, while in 1860-61 Irishman Robert Burke and Englishman William Wills crossed Australia from South to North.
Ironically, at time of writing this Edmund Hillary, the New Zealand Explorer has died. You may recall he is regarded throughout the world as an icon explorer due conquering Mount Everest in 1953 with his Nepalese colleague Tenzing Sherpa. Coincidentally this pioneer was born the year of the Saturn Mars conjunction in Virgo and he dies the year the conjunction recurs.
As far as nuclear science is concerned there were some findings at the configurations 1803-1949. In 1803 Englishman John Dalton published his understanding of the atomic structure of matter, followed by electromagnetic induction theory published by Faraday who presented us with the dynamo at the 1831 configuration. By 1919 the proton was discovered by Ernest Rutherford, another British scientist, and then although the 1949 configuration didn’t bring forth a similar finding, oddly the year before, 1948 brought the theory of continuous creation of matter by Fred Doyle (GB) then the year afterwards, 1950, Einstein reported the Unified Field Theory.
Einstein’s theory of relativity was confirmed via an experiment using I believe the Gemini solar eclipse 29th May 1919, a few months prior to the Mars Saturn line up in Virgo. I do feel that Mars in Aquarius opposite Saturn in Leo more appropriately conveys the idea of discovery of the Theory of Relativity due to Aquarius being a sign which happily relates to research and discovery, while Sun ruling Leo and the rays it gives off being governor of all particles also is more appropriately related to this theory. However, what the Mars Saturn conjunctions in Virgo delivered is the application of this theory rather than the discovery of it, which is why I mention it here. Virgo is about the application of policy or theory, its administration, or an agreements or treaties delivery in action, seen to be applied administered or utilised in a meaningful and constructive way.
Do you think it might just be a coincidence that Wurttenberg, ruled by Virgo, is the same region where Einstein was born nearby in Ulm, and that he should then publish his Unified Field Theory in the same year Saturn and Mars appear in the sign which rules his native region, or is god just playing dice with the universe?
I have to confess this study of Saturn and Mars was not as exciting or compelling as the opposition in Aquarius and Leo. But then Virgo isn’t known for creativity, the unusual or the unexpected, quite the opposite in fact as this study shows, though clearly the discoveries section does show some correlations that are worthy of note.
References
Raphael Mundane Astrology W Foulsham and co 1901 edition
C E O Carter An Introduction to Political Astrology re published in ‘Mundane Astrology’ by Astrology Classics
United Kingdom and its divisions
For those interested in mundane astrology the following information might prove useful:
United Kingdom refers to England, Scotland and its Isles such as Orkney and Hebrides, Wales and only the Northern parts of Ireland. This is a political description of those areas of land ruled by Parliament since 1801 but now undergoing changes due to devolution. The following chart for the United Kingdom is a political one only and may not serve useful for looking at many mundane affairs. The time taken is for that of coming into force of the Act Of Parliament uniting Great Britain and N. Ireland
The map for Great Britain which is really mainland Britain, excluding Northern Ireland, and set up at Westminster for the union of Scotland and England is as follows:
All data for above charts was taken from C E O Carter’s book on Mundane astrology
List of conjunctions using European dating system:
9/6/1938
14/7/1568
4/8/1596
1/9/1626
12/9/1654
03/10/1656
13/10/1684
16/11/1714
A major echo conjunction
23/12/1742 Sat retro
27/1/1743 Sat retro and mars
02/4/1745 Sat retro and mars
27/5/1745 Sat retro
29/6/1773
2/8/1803
12/8/1831
01/9/1833
11/9/1861
12/10/1891
24/10/1919
30/11/1949
24/6/1980
10/7/2008
12/8/2038
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