Monday, January 10, 2011

The Arizona Shooting

©2011 J. Lee Lehman

Before anything, I have to express my personal dismay that we even have such astrological moments to interpret. Shooting politicians is not a mark of a civilized society, no matter what the Hatriots, who have furthered their careers and pocketbooks, may think. Rhetoric kills.

I have to admit to a personal connection: my parents had retired to Green Valley, AZ, a town just south of Tucson. Accordingly, I have visited Tucson numerous times. My parents had bought from Giffords' family business. I know the addresses given. Giffords was elected the year after my father died, but I have no doubt he would have voted for her.

It took a while to sort out the chaos surrounding the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords two days ago. The time has been given from 10:00 - 10:11 am, but the difference is not that meaningful in examining the chart. Can it tell us anything useful about the event, and what will come of it?

At 10:00 am, Saturn is much closer to the 8th house; at 10:00, the Moon is much closer to the Ascendant, but with either chart, these are the two great symbols we see. When I first read the reports, and learned of the death of Judge John Roll, I wondered whether in fact he was the target. We have since learned otherwise.

Chart for the shooting of 20 people.
How should we view the chart astrologically? I would propose that one very good way to do this is as a decumbiture. There are two major unknowns at this point: the prospect for Giffords' recovery, and the disposition of her alleged attacker. Quite honestly, I am far more interested in the former than the latter.

If we do so, here's what we can see. From what we know at this point, Giffords was the target of the shooting, and, as the "subject" of the event, the 1st house. She was most certainly not the only victim of this event, but what we can all agree is that, had it not been for the murderer picking her as a target, all the other people would be alive today. Those other victims, I suspect, are shown by Saturn, so close to the 8th house cusp.

The Moon is right at the Ascendant. (Remember, the time uncertainly means that the Moon could have still been in the 1st house, but conjunct the Ascendant nonetheless.) The Moon rising in electional astrology represents change - and this certainly represents a change in her status! The partile conjunction of Jupiter-Uranus, with the Ascendant being ruled by Jupiter spells out the suddenness of the event.

The good news is: the Moon and Jupiter (as ruler of the 1st) are not in approaching aspect to Venus, ruler of the 8th. This would be the primary argument for her death: if the Ascendant ruler of the Moon was approaching an aspect to the ruler of the 8th. In fact, the Moon was separating from the square to Venus.

The next consideration is the degree of her recovery. I think she will make a good one. Jupiter is dignified in Pisces and, given the relatively late degree, it is also dignified in Aries. With the Moon separating from, rather than applying to, Neptune, I believe her medical team is able to read her condition well. The 6th house, her "disease," is ruled by the Sun, which is peregrine. When the ruler of the 1st is stronger than the ruler of the 6th, it means that the patiet's vitality is stronger than the disease. This is alo encouraging.

Jupiter also rules the 10th house of treatment, which is a good thing for her. There will be some bumps along the way, but this would take a thorough analysis of the critical days to examine this question further. But with the Ascendant in a mutable sign - those which used to be called common - I should think that her recovery won't be as fast as we would hope, but with the dignity of her ruler, I think we will be heartened in the end.