Nelson Mandela, Freedom and Sacrifice

I can’t think of Nelson Mandela without the Free Nelson Mandela tune popping into my head. Released in 1984, it was a protest song against his imprisonment for opposing the apartheid South African government. 

 

Mandela has a Moon-Uranus Square in his birth chart, an aspect of freedom, independence and rebellion. In Mandela’s case, his early years were nothing less than a rebellion against his mother country. Moon-Uranus is not an aspect you would expect to suit someone who spent 27 years incarcerated. And it’s not. But Mandela was a political prisoner and with his Moon in tenacious, unyielding Scorpio, he never gave up on his ideals. Eventually, his time inside became an act of protest in itself and this no doubt helped to sustain him.

 

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The Moon falls in the 12^th, the house associated with imprisonment. With this placement comes the need to feel and understand sacrifice, to serve, to surrender oneself to something greater, but with the Moon in Scorpio in its Fall, this happens the hard way, the long- winded way. He needed to hold fast to the courage and strength of his convictions. Notice that the Moon also Squares Mercury and Saturn in Leo in the 9^th House. This is an aspect pattern which suggests a stubborn adherence to one’s highest ideals and the patience required to do so. It also suggests internationalism (9th House) and it was in part due to mounting anti-apartheid pressure from abroad that Mandela eventually regained his freedom.

Mandela’s Sun in Cancer falls in his 8^th House. An 8^th House Sun draws its energy from deep inner resources. 8^th House Sun people can feel socially isolated, literally in Mandela’s case for 27 years of his life. It is, however, through the experience of isolation and also through the experience of crisis that Sun in the 8th people can eventually find the strength to emerge from the shadows transformed and able to live life in full light. And Mandela did this to the max. It wasn’t enough for him or for the world for him just to be free. He was the leader of a banned political party, the ANC, before he went to jail and within a few years of his release, as the leader of a now legal ANC, he was elected as the first black president of South Africa. This also fulfilled the higher promise of Mercury-Saturn in Leo in the 9th square Moon in the 12th and widely opposing Uranus in Aquarius in the 3rd.

The astrology is neatly summed up in the titles of his two of his books, The Struggle is My Life and Long Walk to Freedom as do the following quotes:

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.

 

 A Sun-Moon Trine suggests a personality that needs to feel at peace with itself. It can be a remarkably strong willed aspect when it comes to getting what it wants, but has a veneer of amiability that tends to make people with this aspect popular and easy to get along with.

 

Mandela also carries a generational Jupiter Conjunct Pluto in Cancer aspect in his chart. It falls in his 7^th House and therefore speaks of his public persona, how he is received by others. The conjunction is the start of a whole new cycle for these two planets. The graphic above includes the major themes of the alignment and all of them are easy to relate to Mandela’s life. It’s associated with a deep questioning of received values, morals and ethics; power struggles, shifts in power and the desire for power; wealth and influence; faith and belief; zealotry; the emergence of new philosophies; the powerful urge for change and being a law unto oneself. Certainly, Mandela has become a totem for these

qualities, acting them out, bringing them into the world.   This is helped along by the fact that Jupiter sits on the private becomes public Aries point, with its placement in the 7^th House making a double whammy of thrust towards the public arena. Where the personal comes in is from is a very tight Sesquiquadrate between the Moon and Pluto and a tight Mercury-Jupiter Semisquare. His public facing side is further underlined by the presence of Venus on his 7th House cusp. In double sided Gemini, it represents on the one hand the immense public popularity and positive acknowledgement he has come to enjoy and on the other hand, given that Venus Trines Uranus, it is an indication of how the attention he received riled and threatened the establishment in his early career.

The 27 years he was in jail represents pretty much an entire Saturn cycle. It is fitting that transiting Saturn was opposing his natal Neptune at the start of his incarceration in August 1962. Additionally, transiting Pluto and Secondary Progressed Sun were just past his MC. This transit marks out this time as a major milestone period in his life, suggesting a significant shift in status.

On his release in February 1990, transiting Pluto had just entered his 12^th house, Squaring his 9^th House Mercury-Saturn conjunction and widely applying to conjunct his Moon. These transits are a symbol of needs and ideals powerfully transformed and given power.

In 1993, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with Frederik Willem de Klerk (South

Africa’s last apartheid-era President), for their work towards the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime. Mandela's transits for the December ceremony include healing Chiron on the MC and Saturn conjunct natal Uranus, marking a zenith moment for the rebel being embraced by an old order (represented by de Klerk) who were finally embracing the powerful forces of change. There was also a rather fitting buildup of transiting planets – Sun, Venus, Mercury, North Node and Pluto – in Mandela’s 12^th House.

Upon his election as President of South Africa, in early May 1994, Neptune and Uranus were opposing his Sun and Saturn had recently made the first pass of its transit to his IC. Transiting Chiron was still in the midst of its series of conjunctions with his MC, a transit that symbolised the healing that needed to be done in South Africa after many years of apartheid and was also an apt symbol for the final acceptance of Mandela, the former maverick, into his full power and influence.

There’s no doubt Mandela has had a long and singularly remarkable life, one which is reflected powerfully in his birth chart and transits. Once dubbed a dangerous and violent threat, he rose to become one of modern history’s most transformative leaders, described by Desmond Tutu as “the beloved father of our nation” His current illness, as transiting Neptune approaches his IC, is a reminder that while this popular and influential figure cannot live forever, his legend will never be forgotten.

Chart data from Astrodatabank. Birth time rectified by Noel Tyl http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Mandela,_Nelson

 

Quotations from www.brainyquote.com

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Astrology for October Part 2 ~ Dark Hours

Happy Halloween and Happy Samhain!

Before diving into part two of October’s Astrological happenings, I'll take a step back to consider the background canvas against which these temporal events are occurring.

The big one is Uranus square Pluto and the themes this represents are playing out dramatically in the world, as anyone who follows current affairs will know.

Uranus in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn symbolises rebellious impulses; hot-headed behavior; sudden and shocking events; anti-establishment feelings; the demand for freedom and respect; issues of control and responsibility; spontaneous uprisings; collective and individual crisis on any level. A serious questioning of power structures and authority is indicated.

Deep and radical changes are occurring in our world at large and in our own personal lives. Do we embrace the radical and disruptive changes we face or do we use our energy to try to hold back the change and maintain the status quo? My personal feeling is that while change can be scary and difficult and while it often involves painful losses, we cause ourselves more suffering in the long run by resisting the inevitable. By making a conscious choice to let go of the past, to concede where we have no control and embrace the future, we place ourselves in a better position to welcome change that is positive, freeing and less traumatic than the alternative. There is one thing that is certain and that is the unpredictability of the future over the next few years. Instead of adding up your losses, count your blessings, stay strong, and be true to your heart. To paraphrase the old saying, be the change you want to see in the world.

As I discussed in Part 1, mid October marks the beginning of a new Sun-Saturn cycle, with Sun Conjunct Saturn in Libra. The two conjoin roughly once a year and mark a time for setting clear, achievable goals for the year ahead. The starting point for setting those goals should  be where you are right now. This is not about pipe dreams, it’s about taking responsibility for your future and setting for yourself some boundaries of normalcy, even as the world goes crazy around you.

October 14 to 17: Venus and Mercury in Scorpio oppose Jupiter in Taurus

This planetary pattern (Venus with Jupiter on the 14^th and Mercury with Jupiter on the 17^th) invites us to be expansive, extravagant, adventurous and broadminded. This could be tempting, but rather than overindulging and overspending, your time would be better spent thinking about your spending. Are you spending within your means? Are you spending too much to please others and is it resources? Of course, it’s not all about the money, this alignment can also bring a generous dose of passion into your life. Are you ready? As if that’s not enough, secrets could be revealed on or around the 17^th!

October 21: Sun trine Neptune

OK, so have things been getting a bit too real for you lately? Well, just in time for the weekend, Sun trine Neptune is perfect for allowing yourself a little bit of escapism. Pile on the glamour and hit the town with your friends, indulge in a romantic evening with your lover or lose yourself in something creative, poetic or artistic. Enjoy it while it lasts because this Sun-Neptune energy comes with a slight warning not to overindulge or mix fantasy with reality. If you do, you could find yourself headed back down to earth with a bump on Monday morning!

October 23: Sun into Scorpio

Happy birthday to all you lovely Scorpios out there.

Scorpio is one of the emotional water signs. In Pisces water runs freely, but is at risk of becoming tainted because it flows indiscriminately. In Cancer water is contained and used resourcefully, but is at risk of becoming stagnant if held for too long. In Scorpio, water is held in solid form, as ice. As such, it is not easily accessible, but once thawed, is pure and crystal clear. So, while Scorpio is a cool customer, he holds the power to transform that which is dark and dirty into that which is cleansing and healing. Read more….

Click for some wonderfully insightful quotes from some very famous Scorpios. Here are a couple to whet your appetite:

Do you seriously expect me to be the first Prince of Wales in history not to have a mistress?
Prince Charles, Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Taurus

The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.

Roseanne Barr, Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Gemini

October 26: New Moon in Scorpio

The New Moon is the darkest time of the lunar cycle, when Lady Luna disappears from our sky. Of course this is merely an illusion, she is there we just can’t see her. This reminds me of Scorpio’s ruler Pluto who, in mythology, must wear a helmet of invisibility whenever he surfaces from the Underworld. Unseen he does his work, so that when we finally see the results of his actions, they arrive in the form of dramatic changes that we come to realise were always inevitable. Scorpio operates in a similar way and its realm is our deepest emotions. Scorpio invites us to scour the hidden depths of our feelings, often taking us to places we would normally shy away from, especially during the dark Scorpio Moon. When the Moon starts to wax back into the light, it can show us our deepest and the darkest emotional detritus, offering it up for cleansing and healing. The medicine might taste bitter, but we'll know it’s good for us.

This New Moon opposes Jupiter in Taurus and sextiles Pluto, picking up on the ongoing Jupiter-Pluto trines (see below for more)...

October 28: Jupiter trine Pluto

This is the second of three trines between Jupiter in Taurus and Pluto in Capricorn. The first was in July this year and the final one will be in May next year.

This planetary combination can bring optimism or all too easily its opposite, pessimism. At best, this alignment can bring inspiration and a powerful affirmation of self belief. On the world stage, it is has been reflected in the excessive faith and optimism our governments have placed in the concept of future economic growth. We can now see that this ‘let’s get back to business as usual’ approach hasn’t worked and we are headed towards a worse financial crisis than the previous. Individually and as a collective, we need to transform our old beliefs and put our faith in something new because we can’t simply carry on as we have been doing. As this alignment connects to the Scorpio New Moon, it’s time to ask if our old desires still serve us, or do we need to fundamentally change our approach. When our goals are more fully aligned with what we truly need in the here and now, then perhaps we can better embrace our future, wherever that may take us.

October 29: Sun opposite Jupiter and sextile Pluto

The Sun makes its exact alignment with the ongoing Jupiter Pluto trines. See above for details.

October 31: Venus square Neptune

This alignment invokes a yearning for bliss which often manifests as a desire for escapism and a retreat into fantasy. We want to feel at one with others, so these energies tend to be projected onto our closest relationships. We want things to be ideal and are tempted to slip on rose tinted spectacles. Enjoy it while it lasts, but remember that you would quickly get bored with your perfect knight (or princess). If you think about it, It’s the flaws and quirks that make our close ones interesting and loveable.

Summary of October's Astrology:

October 2: Mars square Jupiter
October 6: Mercury conjunct Saturn
October 7: Venus trine Neptune
October 8: Venus into Scorpio
October 11/12: Full Moon in Aries
October 13: Sun conjunct Saturn
October 13: Mercury into Scorpio
October 14: Venus opposes Jupiter
October 17: Venus opposes Mercury
October 21: Sun trines Neptune
October 23: Sun into Scorpio
October 26: New Moon in Scorpio
October 28: Jupiter trine Pluto
October 29: Sun opposite Jupiter and sextile Pluto
October 31: Venus square Neptune

Click for Void of Course Moon Times for October

Click for October’s Moon Phases

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The Jupiter-Pluto Cycle

click on picture to enlarge

Jupiter and Pluto have been making a series of square aspects since July 2010 (an aspect that was part of last summer’s cardinal-t-square) and the last in the series occurs in February 2011. These squares mark an important point in the current Jupiter-Pluto cycle.

Themes for the Jupiter-Pluto Cycle

• The need for growth at a deep level
• The urge to expand
• Optimized potential for growth
• Keeping growth/inflation under control
• The need to seek new perspectives
• A questioning of received values, morals and ethics
• Power struggles, shifts in power, desire for power
• Deep issues about faith and belief, transformed beliefs
• Tensions between different faiths and philosophical beliefs, zealotry
• The emergence of new world philosophies
• The need to find a new relationship/new perspective to ‘foreign’ beliefs and those of differing faiths
• Issues around wealth and prosperity
• The significance of power and influence
• Opportunities for shifts in power
• Trying to improve one’s position in life
• Becoming a law unto ourselves
• Powerful urge for change vs. strong resistance to change
• The collective call to adventure
• A growth in underground activities, the ‘black market’
• Dark journeys of the soul

This current round of this 12-13 year cycle began with the conjunction in Sagittarius in December 2007, its orb of influence spanning roughly from October 2007 through January 2008. The conjunction marked the end of the previous cycle and the beginning of the new one and like a New Moon, was a seeding time, when the themes that would come to define the current cycle were sewn. What was planted during this time determined what will blossom and bear fruit later in the cycle.

What was happening economically at the end of 2007? Associated Press reported in Jan 2008 that “the economy deteriorated considerably during the October-to-December quarter as worsening problems in the housing market and harder-to-get credit made individuals and businesses more cautious in their spending. Fears of a recession have grown, even as inflation remained elevated. For all of 2007, the economy grew by just 2.2 percent, the weakest performance in five years.” Wikipedia states that “the US entered a recession at the end of 2007 and 2008 saw many other nations follow suit.”

This is curious, as we might expect this cycle to lead to expansion. However, the first Jupiter-Pluto square of this cycle starting summer 2010 – an alignment of tension and crisis - was just one element in the cardinal t-square. It overlapped with the Saturn-Uranus oppositions (a cycle which typically brings an upset to the status quo and ‘out with the old, in with the new’ – this was the alignment that Obamo was elected under) and the Saturn-Pluto waning square (an alignment of crisis, restriction, contraction and grim reality). Jupiter it seemed was to run with the Saturn-Uranus-Pluto themes, exaggerating and expanding them.

When Jupiter and Pluto oppose each other in 2013/2014 – the half-way, culmination point of the current cycle - it will align with the upcoming revolutionary energy of the Uranus-Pluto squares. Restrictive Saturn will have moved on to Scorpio by then so won’t be a direct part of this picture. Perhaps during this opposition we will start to see growth and expansion. Certainly, economic inflation is set to rise, as a direct result of events that occurred under the conjunction and the square. Let’s hope that growth and change, when it comes - be it economical or spiritual or philosophical - will be fair and just for everyone.

The final, waning Pluto square of this current cycle occurs in late 2016 through 2017. Any prediction depends upon what happens during the 2010 square and the 2013/14 opposition. The best we can do for now is have faith that will we will end the current cycle in a better place than we started it.

With love,
Mandi
http://www.mandilockley.com/