Meditations on the August 11, 1999
Solar Eclipse
by Victoria Bearden
Victoria
Bearden
P.O. Box 1415
Solana Beach, CA 92075
(760) 634-1028
Victoria
Bearden
June 30, 1999
It seems
that we are living in a time of prophecy. And depending on which prophecy
your talking about and how it's being interpreted, that can be either
exciting or terrifying. There are a few dates that are standouts, but
one that seems crucial to many astrologers is August 11, 1999. On this
day there will be a solar eclipse,( a conjunction of the Sun and the
Moon), at 18 Leo. The eclipse is part of a larger configuration know
as a grand cross. The Sun/Moon at 18 Leo will oppose Uranus at 14 Aquarius,
while Mars at 16 Scorpio will oppose Saturn at 16 Taurus. With most
of the heavenly bodies in our solar system lined up near one the of
these four corners, this aspect pattern sort of resembles a cosmic tug-of-war.
Grand cross configurations occur fairly regularly, many of us were born
with them in our own birth charts. What makes the August 11th pattern
so unusual is the simultaneous eclipse and the emphasis of the middle
degrees of the fixed signs, which are particularly potent areas of the
zodiac. This does add up to a huge amount of dynamic tension. Many people
have decided to label this date as ominous, particularly in light of
recent world events and certain rather suspicious ancient prophecies,
such as Nostradamus and the Aztecs. In my opinion, there is no concrete
evidence to suggest that this event portends inevitable disaster. However,
I don't want to underestimate the importance of what is happening. This
event has been anticipated for decades and represents a powerful turning
point in history. We may also see profound turning points in our own
personal lives as well.
So, what is this all about, you might ask? One source I read sited a
very similar astronomical event in 110 B.C., and from all available
historical data, the world seems to have survived. But the number of
prophecies pointing at this date is certainly interesting. Most notably,
Nostradamus, who to my understanding sites July 1999 in one of his most
famous quatrains. I will take a great liberty and give you my translation
of what he wrote. In the year 1999 and 7 months, from the sky will come
a terrible king. Resurrecting the great king of the Mongols. Before
and after, Mars reigns in his happy hour. Now, this is not the easiest
thing to figure out, but obviously points to some kind of warlike event.
Some believe it signifies the war to end all wars, some say nuclear
disaster, and perhaps an attack from hostile aliens. Quite frankly,
this does not have to mean any of those things. But one has to admit,
war and the threat of war is a powerful reality in our world right now.
Perhaps this year will mark some kind of turning point in our awareness
concerning war.
Strangely, the Aztecs also site a nearby date, August 13th, 1999, as
the end of a significant 1,248 year cycle. Apparently, some feel it
represents an ending or disaster. Others feel it marks a more spiritual
kind of shift. Could this be a symbolic death and rebirth in our collective
consciousness?
And what are astrologers saying? Well, everything from the collapse
of world economic stability to "earth changes". But those
are the extremes. After sifting through an enormous pile of articles
and data, the core message from reputable astrologers is much more logical,
and not so prone to sensational predicting. The actual path of the eclipse
begins off the coast of New York, crosses the Atlantic to Europe, the
Balkans, over the Iran/Iraq border, and down through India. The destinies
of these parts of the globe could be more profoundly affected. And since
the effects of eclipse are said to precede them , we can already see
that these areas are in the throes of great change. One of my favorite
astrologers, Maya Del Mar, who regularly writes for Mountain Astrologer,
points to Baghdad as a landmark of astrological activity during the
eclipse. Saddam Hussein, a Taurus, might be particularly fired up in
August, which could spark a higher degree of tension worldwide.
I hesitate to make sweeping predictions, but it is my feeling that no
matter what happens around August 11th, we will prevail. A heightening
of political turmoil would make sense to me, especially in light of
the planets and signs involved in the grand cross. The Sun in Leo has
an association with kings, i.e. world leaders, and their destinies.
The Moon stimulates changes that affect public awareness. Uranus in
Aquarius symbolizes revolution, social reform, and sudden, explosive
changes. Mars in Scorpio suggests secretive, potent, and powerful aggression,
perhaps sparked from past resentment. Saturn in Taurus represents conservative
authority figures, financial institutions, and the status quo. With
these forces in this proverbial clash of the Titans, the energy will
build up and must find a release somewhere in the form of action. In
times of critical mass, people of greatness tend to rise to the occasion.
I think this may be one of those times. On the positive side, this event
may mark a great increase of tension that forces people to mobilize
to find solutions to difficulty. Remaining centered, logical, and courageous
will help all of us get the most out of this unique opportunity for
change. This is a time of global identity crisis. We are questioning
our leaders, our values, our violence, our technology, and ourselves.
This has already been an incredibly dramatic year, with terrible violence
in our high schools in the U.S., the specter of Y2K looming in the back
of our minds, scandal in the White House, and war. Perhaps this eclipse
will stimulate a deep and profound awakening in us to change the course
of our destinies.
At this point, I would like to turn to Dane Rudyar's Astrological Mandala
for some insight into to the symbolic meaning of the degrees of the
August 11th grand cross. For the 18th degree of Leo, which is the Sun/Moon
eclipse, we go to the next degree, 19 Leo, which is as follows. The
symbol is that of a Houseboat Party. That might sound a bit strange,
but the underlying meaning of the symbol is that of freedom from social
rigidity and enhanced interpersonal contacts. This can mean an escape
from our routine existence and a connection to a freer flow of our vital
energies.
The symbol for Uranus at 14 degrees Aquarius,(which rolls over to the
following degree at 15 degrees Aquarius), is that of Two Love Birds
Sitting on a Fence and singing Happily. The meaning of this symbol is
Beatitude. Inner happiness is our reward for our contribution to society.
Understanding the duality of spiritual reality, the Yin and Yang, creative
and destructive, helps us unify, resulting in ananda, or spiritual bliss
and oneness.
The symbol for Mars at 16 degrees Scorpio,(which rolls over the following
degree at 17 degrees Scorpio), is A Woman, Fecundated by Her Own Spirit,
is "Great with Child". This powerful Goddess image signifies
faith in the divine and the sacrifice of the ego in order to live the
Transpersonal Way.
Finally, Saturn at 16 degrees Taurus, (which rolls over to 17 degrees
Taurus), is the Symbolic Battle Between "Swords" and "Torches".
"Refusing to depend upon the past, the seeker turns warrior, fighting
anew the eternal Great War." This represents the soul's struggle
against the ego-will, which only knows how to manipulate the material
and intellectual world. It is a polarization of our values, fighting
to bring spiritual values into balance with our material experience.
When I look at these symbols together, I see an awakening of social
and spiritual consciousness, and the birth of a spiritual warrior within
each of us. This will be my meditation for August 11th, 1999. Look to
your natal chart to see which houses and planets will be affected in
your own life. This may point the way to your particular area of personal
transformation. Remember, whenever we create positive change in our
own lives, the world benefits.
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