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Spiritual Company Newsletter: Demagogues and Reptilians
By Steffan Vanel • Astrologer • Tarot Reader • Author of: The Astrological Karma of the USA
May, 2007
Dear Friends and Clients,
The title of this newsletter is the ‘pet names’ for the Democrats and Republicans expressed by my good friend Ron Schultz. I could have, as well, used the expression on one of my favorite bumper stickers: “Under the Republicans man exploits man. Under the Democrats it’s just the opposite.” I could also have called it: “Why I hate (or at least am greatly annoyed by) America.
The recent challenge for my Mercury in Virgo, rather critical nature, is the current struggle between our Republican President and the Democratic Congress. Clearly the Republican manipulative bulldozing of our nation into this War in Iraq is one of the greatest travesties of our time. Aside from hidden motives and agendas held by the Neo-Conservative contingent, the government and the population in support of the war were clearly clueless as to the reality and effect such an invasion would have upon the people they were ‘liberating.’ This includes all those Democrats who voted for the war because of their need to pander to the popular political climate at that time.
Now that the horrendous results of such a self-righteous, oblivious of the facts, action have manifested, the plan of action of President Bush is to continue with a pre-dominantly U.S. military engagement. This is clearly not working.
On the other hand, I am not a supporter of the Democratic plan to simply mandate troop withdrawals as the answer. To me this is an equally clueless knee-jerk reaction, also totally insensitive to the fact that there would be a major blood bath, especially of every Iraqi who had been working or collaborating in any way with the Americans during the occupation.
The Astrological factor at play here in the U.S. Birthchart is our Sagittarian Ascendant, the way we see ourselves. Sagittarius rising has positive qualities, a love of adventure and travel, a youthful optimism and enthusiasm. But, according to Master Hilarion, it also tends to “make the individual see himself as upright, honest and morally strong, whether true or not.” Pluto was conjuncting this Ascendant on September 11 and it is still in our 1st House of self-image (until 2018). Last year Uranus started to square this Sagittarian Ascendant, confronting yet potentially liberating us from old patterns that no longer serve us.
It is this self-righteous, yet clueless, quality of Americans which can really annoy me. The trouble is, it is across the board in America, left and right, hence ‘Demagogues and Reptilians.’
What should we do in Iraq? My feeling is that the only possibility of a relatively peaceful solution is for the United States to go to the UN on its knees, in humble admission that we have made a horrible mistake, and as a result Iraqi people are needlessly suffering. Rather than reducing terrorism and the extremist groups which have grown to hate us, we have tried to put their fire out by throwing gasoline on it. Clearly the United States presence in Iraq only continues to provide fuel for the conflagration. To me, the only process which could effect a lessening of tensions would be a withdrawal of U. S. troops to be replaced by a UN peacekeeping force staffed by (ideally) predominantly Muslim nations, especially drawing upon a co-operative effort of Iraq’s neighbors Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iran, thus requiring some skillful diplomatic resolution of Shiite/Sunni animosities. This mission should be totally financed by the United States with a special significant bonus payment given to the family of every peacekeeping soldier killed while serving in Iraq.
I know that my plan has a chance of being implemented when ‘hell freezes over.’ Our patriotic self-righteous leaders would never submit to such a humble submission. Nor would other nations be much inclined to risk their soldier’s lives by getting involved in our mess.
I wish there was at least one US political leader, however, who could express more than political rhetoric and have a little sensitivity to the horrible suffering we have created.
The Astrological back-drop to the War in Iraq is the transiting Pluto opposition and square to our natal Mars/Neptune square which began peak intensity in 2003.
Our Mars in the 7th House of relationships tends to ‘rush into battle when opposed’ and Neptune squaring it makes it subject to confusion, delusion and the victim/victimizer program. The last time Pluto hit this Mars/Neptune Square by hard aspect was during the War in Vietnam.
Among other things, this square gives us a potential for a delusional relationship to violence.
When the recent shooting massacre took place in Virginia one of the most poignant statements I heard was by a soldier serving in Iraq. He said that it really hit him emotionally because he deals with such senseless violence everyday in Iraq where US forces are trying to bring the American way of life to the Iraqi people, and yet he had to hear about similar random senseless violence going on at the same time at home….
There was also a touching exchange between Jon Stewart of The Daily Show and an Iraqi politician. Jon Stewart shared the reflection many of us had, how we have grown relatively numb to the daily reports of violence in Iraq, where 33 people killed in a day would be a relatively peaceful day, and yet when it happens in our own nation…
Neptune is now in positive aspect to our Mars, as is Saturn. There is now some potential for some positive Neptunian sensitivity and Saturnian reality check toward our delusional relationship to violence. Of course, following the Virginia Tech tragedy we heard more of the self-righteous knee-jerk reactions. Instead of looking at England where guns are tightly controlled and violent crimes involving guns amount to one/half of one percent, we have outcries of: ‘If the teachers and students were allowed to pack guns then they would have taken Cho out much sooner.’ To my mind, if Seung-Hui Cho knew the teachers and students were possibly carrying weapons, he would probably have resorted to a bomb instead. As they say, violence begets violence.
The early months of 2008 is when we have the next major exams on the part of our curriculum which lead us into the War with Iraq. Let’s hope we earn a better grade.
Speaking of the Virginia Tech shooter, I’ve seen his birthchart and it reveals a lot which I think could explain his actions. My next newsletter will be looking at who he was and what were the Astrological dynamics of his psyche which could lead to such an act.
Blessings,
Steffan VanelPS: I will be based in Seattle for the next several months.
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— Steffan Vanel Archive —
