Blog on the Lillypad
Monday, August 18, 2003
MARS PERIHELION
From a Fundamentalist poster on the FFF: (to me)
Your thoughts?
My Answer:
I think the near approach to Mars matches the Biblical indication of a sign in the heavens. But astrology has lost a lot of definitions in the last ten centuries. Renaissance astrology (what many call Christian astrology after William Lilly's book by the same name) measures stars/planets by angles to each other and where they are in respect to light (ie, how much light each planet receives).
When a planet comes near to earth like this, I don't know enough to know how to measure its effect on the current geometric angles. Renaissance astrology is like evaluating angles on a page. Then in a case like this, one of the points comes right off the page and gets in your face. So you know it's significant. But I only know how to measure it on the page.
Mars is always malefic in world events. The current heatwave and drought in Europe and these ceaseless thunderstorms in the southeast are events that I would attribute to its growing nearness. But any main event from the Mars approach lies closer (I assume) to August 27-28.
I would guess that unusual and cataclysmic Mars-related events will occur. Mars is associated with war, heat, lightning and thunder, pox illnesses or other illnesses related to "heat", fire. Mars rules the blood, fevers, migraines, most skin eruptions, distemper, certain reproductive diseases in men, and shingles & other pox-related viruses.
I'm watching and waiting (and praying), for I am aware that if this approach by Mars is a harbinger of more tragedy for the nation and the world, that God is just. We have played with violence for a long time in this nation and even in Christianity and trifled with it, and I am afraid our pride will be brought down, but I don't know that it will. I'm just concerned about what will happen.
Sorry I couldn't be more definite! But as the amazing nearness of Mars is the first time in human history, there's not much data available.
From another poster on the FFF:
Interesting theories regarding the times we live in. I'm a little
lost on the ramifications of Mars' presence to the earth resulting
in more chaos. Perhaps since I'm not familiar enough with astrology
and stuff.
My Next answer:
The catastrophes of the last three years are attributed by astrologers to a significant eclipse that occurred right on the cardinal signs (0 degrees Capricorn and Cancer) in June 2001, the day of the summer solstice. No specific event occurred at the time, but it was viewed as the herald of great changes in the world. All eclipses are heralds of upcoming change, and they are evaluated according to their significance. But when you get one right on the cardinal signs at the summer solstice, you've got a big eclipse. The cardinal signs are the signs of change and upheaval. Even without eclipses, mundane astrologers always measure the heavens at each "solar ingress" (sun into a cardinal sign at a season change) to help determine events for the next three months.
In Ezekial 1, the four beasts that Ezekial sees were the four cardinal signs of his time: "As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man (Aquarius, the Water Bearer), and the face of a lion (Leo), on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox (Taurus) on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle (Scorpio)." This vision showed Ezekial that great changes were about to take place and showed that God is sovereign over all change, and the stars move at His bidding.
Today, owing to the precession of the equinox, the cardinal signs are Cancer-Capricorn and Libra-Aries. So when the eclipse in June 2001 occurred right on the Cancer-Capricorn axis, (followed by a year-long Saturn-Pluto Opposition in Mutable signs) many astrologers predicted great changes and shifts on the world scene for the next decade. Later, when Mars and the moon opposed each other on that same axis on Sept 11 2001, Tem Tariktar predicted a great event would happen in the morning that would be brief but would attract great notice. Another astrologer predicted a stock market crash for that day. Robert Hand, based on the upcoming ingress into Libra, missed the Sept 11 significance but predicted war for the end of September 2001 or the end of January 2002.
But all of these aspects occurred within the framework of standard astrological aspects: eclipses have occurred before, oppositions have occurred before, etc.
Braveheart, I don't know if you're asking for more info or just casually stating that you don't know enough to make a judgement, but Rennaisance astrology is based on figuring out angles and the focus of light. SO any time any planet gets a lot of light, the astrologer pays a lot of attention to that planet. With Mars being so plainly visible in the sky, we recognize that Mars is receiving a lot of light, but not by the normal astrological reckoning of angles to determine the share of light. Like I said, we figure it all out on a page, and now Mars has jumped off the page right into our faces.
Historically, Mars is malefic, meaning Mars indicates trouble---a time of judgement and reckoning for sinners. This is true about Mars in all classic astrologies---Chinese, Vedic, South American, Babylonian, Greek, etc. The rulership doesn't change much from one astrology to another, either. Mars is Mars where ever you find Mars.
With Mars coming so close and being so visible, it's like a big sign posted in the night sky that says DANGER. But while just about anybody can see this, it's less easy to figure out where the danger lies. I only know that when 9/11 happened, I believed (and still believe) that we were judged by God for our dependence on money, big business, and the strength of our army for help instead of trusting in God.
When those towers fell, and smoke was rising above the Pentagon, I believed that God was warning us of our folly. Mars was a significant player in those events, two. In direct opposition to the moon across the cardinal axis, we had what might be called "a full Mars". So I don't know what this sign in the heavens portends, but I know that God rules the stars; that they declare His righeousness and soveriegn rule without ceasing; and that all of His judgements are just and right. It's my role to wait on God and glorify Him. So as Mars approaches, I pray for God to be glorified, and I ask Him to have mercy upon His people and give us clear direction and understanding; and most of all, to forgive us and this nation for our sins.
From a Fundamentalist poster on the FFF: (to me)
 |
I am not attempting to get anything of conflict started with this post. I am simply wondering what your thoughts as one who knows "a bit" of astrology/astronomy on mars being so close to the earth. Next time this happens will be some 280 years from now. So, I figured in the considering the essence of time limits and that perhaps it is not providing enough measure of time till the next close encounter to discuss the ramifications completely, we might need to start now. |
Your thoughts?
My Answer:
I think the near approach to Mars matches the Biblical indication of a sign in the heavens. But astrology has lost a lot of definitions in the last ten centuries. Renaissance astrology (what many call Christian astrology after William Lilly's book by the same name) measures stars/planets by angles to each other and where they are in respect to light (ie, how much light each planet receives).
When a planet comes near to earth like this, I don't know enough to know how to measure its effect on the current geometric angles. Renaissance astrology is like evaluating angles on a page. Then in a case like this, one of the points comes right off the page and gets in your face. So you know it's significant. But I only know how to measure it on the page.
Mars is always malefic in world events. The current heatwave and drought in Europe and these ceaseless thunderstorms in the southeast are events that I would attribute to its growing nearness. But any main event from the Mars approach lies closer (I assume) to August 27-28.
I would guess that unusual and cataclysmic Mars-related events will occur. Mars is associated with war, heat, lightning and thunder, pox illnesses or other illnesses related to "heat", fire. Mars rules the blood, fevers, migraines, most skin eruptions, distemper, certain reproductive diseases in men, and shingles & other pox-related viruses.
I'm watching and waiting (and praying), for I am aware that if this approach by Mars is a harbinger of more tragedy for the nation and the world, that God is just. We have played with violence for a long time in this nation and even in Christianity and trifled with it, and I am afraid our pride will be brought down, but I don't know that it will. I'm just concerned about what will happen.
Sorry I couldn't be more definite! But as the amazing nearness of Mars is the first time in human history, there's not much data available.
From another poster on the FFF:
Interesting theories regarding the times we live in. I'm a little
lost on the ramifications of Mars' presence to the earth resulting
in more chaos. Perhaps since I'm not familiar enough with astrology
and stuff.
My Next answer:
The catastrophes of the last three years are attributed by astrologers to a significant eclipse that occurred right on the cardinal signs (0 degrees Capricorn and Cancer) in June 2001, the day of the summer solstice. No specific event occurred at the time, but it was viewed as the herald of great changes in the world. All eclipses are heralds of upcoming change, and they are evaluated according to their significance. But when you get one right on the cardinal signs at the summer solstice, you've got a big eclipse. The cardinal signs are the signs of change and upheaval. Even without eclipses, mundane astrologers always measure the heavens at each "solar ingress" (sun into a cardinal sign at a season change) to help determine events for the next three months.
In Ezekial 1, the four beasts that Ezekial sees were the four cardinal signs of his time: "As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man (Aquarius, the Water Bearer), and the face of a lion (Leo), on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox (Taurus) on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle (Scorpio)." This vision showed Ezekial that great changes were about to take place and showed that God is sovereign over all change, and the stars move at His bidding.
Today, owing to the precession of the equinox, the cardinal signs are Cancer-Capricorn and Libra-Aries. So when the eclipse in June 2001 occurred right on the Cancer-Capricorn axis, (followed by a year-long Saturn-Pluto Opposition in Mutable signs) many astrologers predicted great changes and shifts on the world scene for the next decade. Later, when Mars and the moon opposed each other on that same axis on Sept 11 2001, Tem Tariktar predicted a great event would happen in the morning that would be brief but would attract great notice. Another astrologer predicted a stock market crash for that day. Robert Hand, based on the upcoming ingress into Libra, missed the Sept 11 significance but predicted war for the end of September 2001 or the end of January 2002.
But all of these aspects occurred within the framework of standard astrological aspects: eclipses have occurred before, oppositions have occurred before, etc.
Braveheart, I don't know if you're asking for more info or just casually stating that you don't know enough to make a judgement, but Rennaisance astrology is based on figuring out angles and the focus of light. SO any time any planet gets a lot of light, the astrologer pays a lot of attention to that planet. With Mars being so plainly visible in the sky, we recognize that Mars is receiving a lot of light, but not by the normal astrological reckoning of angles to determine the share of light. Like I said, we figure it all out on a page, and now Mars has jumped off the page right into our faces.
Historically, Mars is malefic, meaning Mars indicates trouble---a time of judgement and reckoning for sinners. This is true about Mars in all classic astrologies---Chinese, Vedic, South American, Babylonian, Greek, etc. The rulership doesn't change much from one astrology to another, either. Mars is Mars where ever you find Mars.
With Mars coming so close and being so visible, it's like a big sign posted in the night sky that says DANGER. But while just about anybody can see this, it's less easy to figure out where the danger lies. I only know that when 9/11 happened, I believed (and still believe) that we were judged by God for our dependence on money, big business, and the strength of our army for help instead of trusting in God.
When those towers fell, and smoke was rising above the Pentagon, I believed that God was warning us of our folly. Mars was a significant player in those events, two. In direct opposition to the moon across the cardinal axis, we had what might be called "a full Mars". So I don't know what this sign in the heavens portends, but I know that God rules the stars; that they declare His righeousness and soveriegn rule without ceasing; and that all of His judgements are just and right. It's my role to wait on God and glorify Him. So as Mars approaches, I pray for God to be glorified, and I ask Him to have mercy upon His people and give us clear direction and understanding; and most of all, to forgive us and this nation for our sins.
