(Updated August 12, 2008) You could say it’s a case of the control needs of Saturn having to rise to the surface. There is a controversy brewing both abroad and in China itself over a decision to dub the voice of a 9-year old girl singing Ode to the Motherland in the opening ceremonies. Apparently Chinese organizers thought the singer didn’t have the right "look", so they got a more photogenic little girl to take her place. It has also come to light that Chinese television added computer-generated fireworks to enhance the spectacle of the opening ceremonies.
All of this supports the strong role of Saturn in the chart of the opening ceremonies. As I had suggested last week, the influence of Saturn would mean that the games would be seen as regimented and perhaps sterile, something that is more likely given these revelations for a heavily stage-managed presentation. This is in keeping with my prediction of some kind of "confusion or technical malfunction" that was possible around the 11th owing to Mercury’s vulnerable position in the China natal horoscope. While not a strictly technical problem, the exposure of this bit of excessive manipulation is broadly in keeping with the notion of a malfunction of planning that has blown up in organizers faces.
Meanwhile, the violence is heating up in the Western province of Xinjian, as three security officers will stabbed to death yesterday according to the NY Times. This follows another bombing in Western China by Muslim separatists took place on the 10th and resulted in the deaths of ten people and a third attack that happened on the eve of the Olympics. This is yet another instance of violence during the Games that can be seen in the charts of China and the Olympics.
Posted by Christopher Kevill at 8/12/2008 02:18:00 PM
(updated August 9, 2008) In a random attack, a Chinese man attacked two American tourists and their Chinese guide, killing one of them, and then committed suicide by leaping to his death. The New York Times reports that the death has "cast a pall" over Beijing just a day after the well-received opening ceremonies.
On August 5, I had suggested that there might be a violent or disruptive event at the time of the opening ceremonies. This killing, coupled with some minor protests that occurred the day prior to the opening of games would appear to have fulfilled that energy in the charts.
Violence and Protests possible during Olympics; Saturn will control
(updated August 5, 2008) Yesterday’s terrorist attack in the Western Chinese province of Xinjiang by Muslim separatists has underlined potential security concerns for the upcoming Olympics which begin August 8th. As I’ve discussed previously, the springtime protests against the Chinese rule in Tibet during the torch relay were attributable to transiting Saturn’s weakened state in the 8th house of the China horoscope. While Saturn has moved away from this point, transiting Ketu has now conjoined the natal Mars-Pluto conjunction. Mars and Pluto together create a picture of the exercise of power and the possibility of brutal violence. Ketu’s influence here can bring out the sudden manifestations of these energies in sometimes shocking ways. Monday’s attack was symptomatic of this planetary energy. Given the power of this transit and the co-presence of the transiting inner planets in the 8th house during the games, I think we can expect more violent and/or protest incidents over the next two weeks.
On the night of the opening ceremonies on the 8th, transiting Venus is very close to the 8th house cusp. Venus rules the 10th house of government and leaders and the 8th house represents embarrassments and setbacks. The transiting Moon comes under the aspect of natal Mars around midnight, indicating a possible moment of conflict and violence. On the night of the 11th, transiting Mercury moves to this same sensitive point in the 8th house, indicating a possible time of confusion or technical malfunction that affects the games and causes headaches. The fact that Mercury rules the 9th house of foreigners in the natal chart of China suggests that foreign nationals may be the source of the problem for Chinese officials. Finally, the two days at the close of the Olympics on the 23rd and 24th also look troublesome as transiting Sun moves across that 8th house cusp. At the same time, transiting Mercury and Venus conjoin the natal Mars in the 2008 Olympics natal chart at 29 Leo (see below). This may indicate situations that put officials in an awkward position for some reason, most likely due to protests. The closing ceremonies on the 24th display this pattern somewhat more strongly.
Another way to read the probable character of these Olympics is to examine the chart of the games themselves. The Olympics are scheduled to being at 8.08 pm on August 24th in Beijing. This chart therefore reflects the general nature of the games. What stands out most of all is that the lagnesh Saturn, ruler of Aquarius, is angular and aspects the ascendant quite closely. As we have seen from the build-up, the security presence in China for the games is extremely visible. Since Saturn represents order and structure, I think it’s safe to say that the extreme security measures for these games will be a dominant feature. With Venus closely conjunct Saturn in the 7th house of others or guests, it’s likely that visitors will probably feel oppressed somewhat by the security to the point where their enjoyment of the games will be compromised. This idea of a very regimented games is further seen by the situation of the Moon in Libra in the 9th house. As 6th lord of conflict, it is also aspected by Saturn suggesting that security will be seen as too strict although perhaps necessary to deal with the protests that may occur.
Overall, I think the games will be remembered as well-organized but probably too strict and sterile where the authoritarian character of China’s government is laid bare for the whole world. Protests and smaller acts of violence will also mark the games on several occasions, although I don’t expect anything hugely significant on that front. Mars is closely opposed by unpredictable Uranus in the Olympics natal chart, but the extent of any damage will be limited by the calming influence of the Jupiter aspect. This forecast will be amended by the chart for the declaration of the opening of the games which usually occurs near the beginning of the ceremonies on the first night.
Dalai Lama (posted April 7, 2008) China’s problems are not getting any better as pro-Tibetan protests caused the Olympic flame do go out at least five times today in the relay through Paris. The rest of the relay through France has been cancelled.
This is more or less in keeping with my prediction that China’s international reputation would be sullied as transiting Mars squared all of its 9th house planets in early April. I can see this tarnishing of China’s image continuing for the rest of the week at least, as tr Mars (21 Gemini) will activate the natal Neptune-Ketu conjunction. April 12-15 looks especially damaging to China as the Ketu aspect is more exact. This may be a outbreak of significant violence in the relay which may intensify calls for a boycott, at least of the opening ceremonies. This has already been suggested by some EU members as a possible course of action and is the official position of some Tibetan protest groups. The next phase of the relay is scheduled for San Francisco.
Dalai Lama – July 6, 1935 4.45 a.m.Interestingly, we can see the current violence in the Dalai Lama’s horoscope. The planet of violence and conflict, Mars (19 Gemini) conjoins his natal Sun (20 Gemini) while transiting Sun (25 Pisces) opposes his natal Mars (25 Virgo). This may also reflect his state of unease with what is these protests.
Tibetan Protest
March 22, 2008) Riots and violence have continued in Tibet over the weekend as the Chinese have moved in military units to "crush" the apparently unorganized independence protest. The situation is making for a PR nightmare for Beijing in its Olympic year.
We can see the violence flaring in the China chart (Oct 1 1949 3.15 pm Beijing) as tr Mars conjoins natal Uranus in the 6th house of conflict. From a wider view, we can see that this is not a passing problem. The chart is running Saturn-Venus. While Venus is well placed natally in Libra in the 10th house, it comes under close square from the debilitated natal Mars, which is in turn conjunct Pluto. This promises some degree of conflict during the duration of its subperiod. Lagnesh Saturn is placed in Leo in the 8th house. We can understand that these problems are cropping up now by looking at the situation of lagnesh and dasha lord Saturn in transit: it is currently in the middle of the equal 8th house in Leo and therefore in a state of affliction. The malefic 8th house is associated with obstacles in general, and more specifically with embarrassments and scandals. That certainly sums up all the bad press the repressive Chinese government has been getting lately as its darker side has been on display for the whole world to see.
China – Oct 1, 1949 3.15 pm I don’t think the core of the current flare up of the Tibet problem will let up as long as tr Saturn remains in proximity to 10-12 degrees of Leo which form the deepest and more afflicted part of the 8th house. This conflict and armed occupation will last until the summer, and unfortunately for the image-conscious Chinese, into the Olympics which run from Aug 8-24. What is perhaps more troubling for China is that tr Mars and Rahu will conjoin at 25 Cancer near China’s Mars-Pluto conjunction. This happens in mid-June and points to another unwelcome event, either another significant outbreak of violence or perhaps some formal international fallout (boycott?) from China’s actions in Tibet. In light of its currently afflicted chart, it seems that the Olympics will be mired in controversy.
More immediately, I am curious about the effects of tr Mercury and Venus in opposition to China’s natal Saturn on or near March 24. This looks like a worsening of the conflict, albeit perhaps more in terms of China’s image overseas. The conflict and its diplomatic fallout is likely to intensify in the next couple of weeks as Mars continues its transit through Gemini since its square aspect will activate China’s Virgo planets, which lie in the 9th house.
