The astrology of explosions
‘Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds’1
This week was the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, a terrible event in a terrible war. Two atomic bombs, eerily called, ‘Little Boy’ and ‘Fat Man’ were dropped by the USA on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively. Between 129,000 and 226,000 people, the majority civilians were killed. This is the only time nuclear weapons have been used in warfare, to date.
The astrology says it all. Uranus, the planet of violence and destruction is conjunct the MC. The attacks caused Japan’s surrender (MC). This is shown by the Sun, ruler of the 12th of self-undoing, applying to a sextile of that Uranus, the precipitous, violent fall of the ruler. The people, as always, suffered from their leader’s hubris, shown by the Moon applying to Saturn in the 10th. Saturn rules the 6th house of sickness, the fall out from these bombs caused long term harm to the people.
Pluto (ruler of atomic energy) is in a close sextile to Mars (the warmonger) in Gemini, I think showing the bomb’s arrival by plane. The Sun is 4 degrees away from Pluto, which perhaps represents the decision, a few days before, to drop the bombs.
Both Jupiter and Neptune, co-rulers of the 7th house of open enemies are in the first house. They are conjunct Chiron suggesting perhaps the under estimation of the damage the bomb would do (Chiron).
Mercury, the chart ruler is hidden away in the 12th house. A message is being sent, surrender or else.
The bombings of 9-11 in the USA also highlight Mercury, which is in Libra conjunct the Ascendant. Mercury rules the 9th house of overseas and religion and is ‘sending a message’ to US leaders shown by Moon in Gemini also in the 9th, emphasizing the ‘religious war’ aspect of this (Christian vs Muslim) fought overseas. Mercury disposits the Moon (who is in Mercury’s sign, Gemini) and is in a very close trine to Saturn also in Gemini in the 9th. Saturn rules the Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Saturn rules the 4th of endings and inheritance, Mercury rules the 12th of self undoing. Echoing the Hiroshima 12th house Mercury.
Saturn is separating from the opposition of Pluto in Sagittarius. Saturn Pluto is the destruction (Pluto) of structures (Saturn), the targets were at the heart of the US power, New York and Washington. They make a T Square with the Sun on the cusp of the 12th house.
Uranus in ideological Aquarius is opposite the chart ruler Venus in Leo, Venus also rules the 8th house of death. Around 3,000 people died in the attacks. The subsequent US ‘war on terror’ killed at least 4.5 million people, the majority Muslims, in retaliation.
The Moon’s last aspect is an opposition of Chiron, highlighting the wound these events aimed to create. The neighbour theme (3rd house) also shows the busy area around the twin towers.
Uranus is sextile Chiron in the 3rd house. Mars, ruler of the 7th of open enemies is in the 3rd house of neighbours, the assassins were said to be Saudis, supposed allies of the US. Mars, is applying to the South Node, which suggests past actions bringing violence (Mars). The US has been responsible for many, many coups over the years, read the list here.
On September 11th, I wandered into my local supermarket where there was a TV screen and saw a large group of people watching something. It was the usual London crowd, people from all over the world. I stood next to a man from the Indian sub continent and watched the plane flying into the Twin Towers. We looked at each other. ‘This will cause a whole lot of trouble’ he said. I agreed and observed that maybe this was chickens coming home to roost.
The 7-7 bombings in London were on a lesser scale, but no less devastating for that. Four separate devices were set of by four suicide bombers during the rush hour, 56 people died. Like the Hiroshima chart, the people (Moon) strong in Cancer are applying to Saturn.
At the time of the bombings, I was volunteering at a suicide helpline. I remember crossing the busiest street in London to get to the call centre and it was completely deserted, all transport had stopped, all shops were closed and there were no people around, all very Saturnine. Answering the phones, instead of people ringing up with their problems, people rang in the see if we were all OK. A lovely twist, showing that compassionate Cancer Moon. The next day I was due to catch a train to the countryside, and went to catch the Tube, which was running again. There were two ‘bobbies’ in the station and I asked them if it was OK to travel. They looked at me as if it was a strange question and said of course it was. The Blitz spirit perhaps. London has been bombed a lot.
In the chart, the 9th house has a warlike Mars in Aries, showing violence and religion again. Mars is applying to a Trine of Pluto in Sagittarius and a trine to the Leo Ascendant. Fire Trines are unstable, can be violent and certainly show explosions.
Again, that 12th house Mercury, this time conjunct Venus and Lilith in Leo. Venus rules the MC and the 3rd house showing transport and neighbours, the bombers were locals.
In myth, Mercury was the psychopomp, the messenger who traveled between the worlds. Mercury brought messages from the Underworld and the world of Spirit. The prominence of Mercury was a surprise to me, but the older meanings of the planets still stand. In each case, a message was sent, via transport, planes in the case of Hiroshima and 9.11, tube and bus for 7-7. Mercury brought death.
The showings of Pluto, Uranus and Saturn I expected, Chiron, less so, but these events left a long shadow, a wound which could not be healed which does fit Chiron. It is estimated, post 9-11, 2,000 firefighters and other first responders and others encountering the toxic materials died. The figures of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are less clear, estimates between 90,000 and 166,000 people died in Hiroshima, while another 60,000 to 80,000 died in Nagasaki in the months following the bombing. Leukaemia and increased cancer rates continued to the next generation2. They cast a long shadow.
What is interesting is the Leo planets in these three charts. The 7-7 has a Mars Venus Lilith conjunction in Leo and Leo Ascendant. The 9-11 chart has the chart ruler Venus in Leo, the Hiroshima chart has a Sun Pluto conjunction in Leo. Leo does not immediately come to mind when thinking of explosions, but then, Leo loves a spectacle, even a bloodthirsty one.
Elisabeth Brooke 