Felix succeeds with dive from stratosphere

Felix Baumgartner succeeded with a recordbreaking jump from over 39.000m on October 14. 2012. His balloonride took him up into the Earth's stratosphere to 39049 metres - almost 10% higher than the 36576 metres targeted for the project. I watching the feat as it was streamed on the internet. The time was close to 18.00 hrs GMT as the 2hour ascend was completed and Baumgartner climbed onto the doorstep on the outside of his space capsule. A previous attempt was postposed a week earlier at the Moon in Leo translated Saturn to Mercury in early Scorpio by square. I admit I feared the jump last week could end in tradegy as the skydiver moved to be the first human to break the soundwall (Saturn/Mercury) outside an areoplane/spacecraft.

As Felix's specially designed helium ballon lifted him into the skies on Sunday, I watched the passage of the waning Moon as it passed through the 11th degree of Libra. The Moon at the end of its cycle in air sign Libra was a perfect symbol for the ultimate jump from the high in the outer edges of the Earth's atmosphere. Physics and the thinness of the atmosphere puts a limitation to how far a helium balloon can rise and lift a capsule up above the Earth's suface. The balloon reaches a level where the air is so thin, there is simply no more lift.

Vindemiatrix
The Moon transited the fixed star Vindemiatrix and this special daredevil stunt gave new understanding to the workings of this fixed star traditionally called the Star of Widowhood. The new understanding lies in the concept of Vindemiatrix also being associated with "World's in collision". While there would be no world's in collision in the literal sense during Baumgartner's jump, the fascination lies with the impact and energy release of breaking into the Earth's enveloping atmosphere and again the consequencse of breaking through another natural barrier, namely the Speed of Sound.

In reflection, relationships formed when a planetary significator is joined to Vindemiatrix lead to dire consequences when people penetrate one anothers intimate zone without the correct preparation or correct balance. If you move in too fast, there is difficulty to keep up with communication and reason, and a protective shield (or obstruction of nature) may cause sudden hazard and send the traveller for a spin. Trying to make some sense out of the traditional meaning of the 'Star of Widowhood'; Maybe relationships, and matters at large, appear to fall from the high and flat on the ground and are due to collapse or be aborted if some problem is overlooked, due something either in the way or missing; unless particular skill and safety measures are made in the approach and preparatory stages. It is quite obvious that Felix would have not succeded this jump without the help from some sort of technology or life-support system. A degree of Sudden Falls?

Would anyone else like to comment the stunt? The Moon was not in the 'Fiery Way' but in that section of the zodiac that leans in the opposite direction prior to the degree of the Sun's fall.

Vindemiatrix - the Star of Widowhood is interestingly enough in a semi-square to Alphard at 27 Leo that represents the One that Stands Alone. This makes sense. It is interesting how fixed stars complement one another. The semi-square aspect seems to describe the possible effects of a rough path. Fixed stars slowly alter their positions and angular relationships to one another, so that the combination of celestial meanings would gradually change over a long period of time.

This guy must have nerves of steel! I would love to see his natal data.

Mark

his birthdate is april 20 1969 salzburg, austria...

not sure what astro config would point to daredevil, but my immediate guess is some sort of mars/uranus thing.. in his chart uranus is opposite the aries point, which might suggest an interest in aviation, flying or even jumping from high places.. lihin and i were talking earlier today on another thread about the aries point and how i understand it as the nodal axis for earth.. i think people who have planets directly on this spot tap into, or express the energy o planets on this axis more readily. this brings it back to 'mundane' astrology for me.. otherwise i see this as more to do with the person then with mundane astrology.. maybe i need to expand my understanding of what mundane astrology means.. i mostly think of it having to do with countries..

outside of the transiting mars trine uranus on the date of his last accomplishment, i am not sure what to attach to his behaviour and accomplishments astrologically speaking.. the other interesting transit to oct 14th skydiving thing is t mercury opposite his natal mercury exact, while solar arc uranus is also opposite this natal mercury..

james m wrote:otherwise i see this as more to do with the person then with mundane astrology.. maybe i need to expand my understanding of what mundane astrology means.. i mostly think of it having to do with countries..

True.. but I think that anything that deals with putting a world record or moving a collective barrier (world events) can be brought to the mundane sector.

hi andrew,

obviously you do, as you are doing it and this is really the first time that i have shared some of my thoughts on this, but not the first time i have thought of it!! if someone wins an oscar, is that mundane or more celebrity astrology? if someone flies to the moon is it more to do with the country that launches the spacecraft or the astronauts doing the driving? maybe it is all a moot point.. i think there is plenty of internet space for everyone's comments. i don't see a box here for celebrity astrology, but this is how i primarily view this fellow skydiving millionaire.

cheers james

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, James. The question is valid and I think we should examine it. It could be like this; "All for One and One for All". From a Christian perspective it takes One Saviour to save Everyones Soul. Or on a more 'mundane' level: It takes One person to discover a New Planet, a New Element, etc. This progression or advance alters everyones consciousness and the reality of Mankind, rather...

Strange how if someone moves a boundary in one part of the world, then other people may be moving the same boundaries in other parts of the world. It just takes the first person to break through. Collective growth?

No, I do not think that someone winning an Oscar is a mundane event, unless regarded from a national perspective. The first time a nation receives a recognition or an international award, I do think this could be significant. Maybe a nation winning several Oscars over time and this seen in perspective. The awarding of the Oscars could be a mundane event and certainly the constituting of this award. But now there seems to be so many braches and lines of business forming their own awards so that they can appraise themselves and their own interests, and to some extent this could be seen as a publicity stunt more than an actual accomplishment.

If I had the money I would definately consider forming a fund to encourage the development of others. There are legacies and these are far more low-toned than Oscars.

Mark wrote:This guy must have nerves of steel! I would love to see his natal data.

Mark

I agree with you, Mark. And I would like to see his chart in the Mundane Forum because I agree with you too, Andrew:

Andrew wrote:[..] anything that deals with putting a world record or moving a collective barrier (world events) can be brought to the mundane sector.

And when this "anything" is a human beeing, that 'moves the world' both are worth the astrological consideration and study - altogether and in this forum.

Johannes

And when this "anything" is a human being, that 'moves the world' both are worth the astrological consideration and study - altogether and in this forum.

Well, I have a debate running here regarding an astronomer who over the last year sent out a press report saying that a new galaxy had been discovered over 500 million/billion (I don't remember) light years away from Earth. My point being that the galaxy has 'always' been there, the only thing that has changed is within ourself - our awareness of the Universe.

Andrew wrote:

.....It could be like this; "All for One and One for All". From a Christian perspective it takes One Saviour to save Everyones Soul. Or on a more 'mundane' level: It takes One person to discover a New Planet, a New Element, etc. This progression or advance alters everyones consciousness and the reality of Mankind, rather...

Interesting discussion! Where mundane astrology begins or ends is really a subjective question. When I first took over as moderator here in spring 2010 I gave it a fairly tight definition on the forum guidelines. However, my current view is that everything that touches on collective consciousness is arguably has a mundane dimension.

If we look at traditional astrology they only had 4 basic branches:

1 Horary
2 Elections
3 Natal
4 Mundane

I remember when I was producing a bibliography of mundane books here on the forum Philip Graves was rather surprised I was including books on financial astrology. He obviously, saw mundane astrology as mostly, about political or natural events. However, as I see it these these kind of distinctions are rather arbitrary and artificial. Financial markets do engage the collective and are in fact highly susceptible to the waxing and waning of public confidence.

Sports astrology is also arguably a topic that comes under mundane astrology in the broadest sense. I have a particular liking for political astrology. I am not into sport that much although I enjoy the Olympics, World Cup and Wimbledon. However, one could make an equally strong case that sports are just as much about collective consciousness and therefore a part of mundane astrology. Arguably more so as far more people across the world get emotionally engaged in sports events than politics. Moreover, team sports can involve intense pride and rivalry in terms of representatives of your community, region or nation.

So I can see Andrew's perspective that this feat belongs here as it clearly generated interest across the world. On the other hand if this qualifies why not film stars or pop musicians? They generate lots of public interest too? Andrew makes the point that as this is a record it is pushing the boundaries of human achievement as it goes into the record books. Thats good enough for me.

Then there are threads like the recent one on the Templars. Did that belong here? They were a group so I saw no objection to it. Plus people seemed to be enjoying the discussion. What about Andrew's thread on the missing girl? I found that a fascinating discussion although I didn't have time to participate there. Did it really belong in the mundane section here though?

Andrew's view which he has mentioned a few times to me is that our role is to be commentators on what is happening around us in the world not just prognosticators. In that sense the news around us always has an astrological dimension worth exploring. I dont disagree with that outlook. When I first took over the forum I did try to do this but it just required far too much time. Plus as my focus is more traditional I tend to like to have a root chart to work with rather than just event charts.

Ultimately, though I welcome all contributions here as long as they are respectful of others and not politically partisan. My only real concerns are threads that have a strongly apocalyptic perspective or promote conspiracy theories.

I see the forum rather like a bookshop. People may very well be attracted to different titles but the important thing is they come in to take a look. . Hopefully you might buy a title now and again...i.e. make a post!

Mark

Johannes Susato wrote:

I would like to see his chart in the Mundane Forum

Ok here is a chart for Felix Baumgartner :
He was born on a day the Sun changed sign from Aries to Taurus at 7.27 AM. In the absence of any timed data I have decided to 'rectify' him as Sun Aries (timed for 7.00am) as I think that fits nicely with his Mars in Sagittarius. Still as a Sun in Taurus his dispositor is Venus in Aries. That leaves the Solar dispositor Venus in detriment and Rx too which fits someone who likes to get attention and go against the norm. This finds an outlet through its dispositor Mars. He has a stellium of Sun-Saturn conjoined and also Venus in Aries in this version of his chart. Venus in trine to Mars. The Moon in Gemini that day forming an applying opposition to Mars in Sagittarius. Uranus Antiscion the north Node. Jupiter Rx in detriment in Virgo on the South Node.

As we probably all anticipated there is lots of Mars influence here with the Aries focus. Both the Gemini Moon and Mars in Sagittarius add to the search for adventure and stimulation. The applying opposition makes that emotionally important for Felix. Also an applying square from Mars to Pluto. Quite appropriate for someone attracted to highly dangerous death defying exploits. Not quite sure how to interpret his debilitated Jupiter without a timed chart. Interesting that both benefics are weak in this chart so Felix seems to be using at least one of the malefics (Mars) to his own advantage. I admit this might fit better in a night chart for his Mars. So I would suspect he was born either early in the morning ( before sunrise or after sunset. Apart from the fixed Mercury all the traditional planets here are cardinal or mutable.

Mark

thanks for your thoughtful reply andrew.. i see a lot of this as natal astrology.. one could say in order to understand the direction of a particular country, one needs to consider the leaders chart.. this is how i understand mundane astrology historically where getting the king or queens birth data gave an overview on the direction of the country.. perhaps one could say getting felix's chart will give us an overview on something that has a relationship to the mundane - breaking world records- olympic sports people would fall into this same category.. i see it as natal astrology myself, but frankly i don't really care too much either way. i think it is fun to talk about what mundane astrology is and how it differs from natal astrology.. if we focus on natal charts, is that natal or mundane astrology? with felix, i think it is natal astrology.. with obama, i think it has relevance for the usa immediately.. post away!