Over the last week international news has been dominated by several stories relating to extreme weather and related environmental issues.

In summary:

Pakistan
The worst flooding in living memory along the flood plane of the Indus river has occurred since the end of July. Over 14 million people are now directly affected by the flood and millions has been made homeless. Official estimates are undoubtably too low and the situation is fast moving but the death toll was last estimated at around 1600 deaths. So far Pakistani officials state 650,000 homes have been destroyed, 1.4m acres (557,000 hectares) of agricultural land has been flooded and 10,000 cows have died. The Pakistan government has been internally criticised for its tardy response to the crisis. In particular the slow response of aid from the Army to help affected areas. The Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has also received severe domestic criticism for insisting on continuing a foreign trip to the United Kingdom at the time of the disaster.
The Pakistan floods are not just a topic for astrological analysis. Its a clear human tragedy. I therefore invite members to consider what they can personally donate to assist relief efforts if they have not already done so. Here is the link to the UK Disasters Emergency Committee which is coordinating donations by telephone and online to numerous NGOs working in the affected areas of Pakistan.

http://www.dec.org.uk/


Russian Federation
Following the warmest summer temperatures in Russia since records began over a century ago several hundred forest fires are raging throughout the Russian Federation for over a week. Russian government efforts to tackle the fires have had limited success as new localised fires keep breaking out as existing fires are extinguished. Last week about 155,000 people, including 124,000 emergency workers, and more than 20,000 units of machinery were being used to fight the fires across Russia. The fires have now spread across 14 separate regions in western Russia and 7 of these are now under a state of emergency including Moscow itself. Over 50 people have already died and hundreds of thousands have been made homeless. One consequence of the fires and heatwave conditions is that a thick smog has formed around many Russian towns and cities. In Moscow in particular pregnant women and children are being advised to leave the city while other residents are advised to stay indoors. Citizens are being advised to wear face masks when going outside their homes. About a fifth of Russia's grain crop has been destroyed and there was another big rise in the price of wheat on international markets this week. Some experts think the smog conditions could last until September.

One additional serious concern is if fires break out in Bryansk, some 350 km southwest of Moscow on the Ukrainian border, which bore the brunt of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. Sergei Shoigu, head of the Emergency Ministry, warned in a press conference on Friday 06/08/2010 that if fires spread to this region, they could lift radioactive contamination that exists in the soil into the air and contaminate other regions.



Greenland 06/08/2010
A giant sheet of ice measuring 260 sq km (100 sq miles) has broken off a glacier in Greenland, according to researchers at a US university. The block of ice separated from the Petermann Glacier, on the north-west coast of Greenland. It is the largest Arctic iceberg to form since 1962, said Prof Andreas Muenchow of the University of Delaware.
Pakistan 07/08/2010
About 500,000 inhabitants of southern Pakistan (Sind Province) have had to be evacuated. Flood waters have been threatening to burst through a dam threatening much of southern Pakistan.

Climate Change
Arguably the bigger story behind all these incidents is climate change. Scientists now report that global temperatures in the first half of this year were the hottest since records began more than a century ago, according to two of the world's leading climate research centres.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... 010-record

Astrological links?
Do these stories have an astrological connection?

One obvious link is the Mars-Saturn conjunction of Mars-Saturn at 00.49 Libra. This took place on July 30th-31st. So could the Mars-Saturn conjunction be the trigger for this?

It is also interesting that the formation of the massive ice sheet off Greenland occurred as transiting Venus entered Libra near the location of the Mars-Saturn conjunction. Venus was the dispositor of the Mars-Saturn Conjunction.

I don?t want to swamp this thread with my analysis. I am therefore just putting up the Aries Ingress charts for Pakistan and Russia for others to comment on.
A few obvious observations though are the fact that the Mars-Saturn conjunction fell very near Saturn Rx in the Aries Ingress charts. The prominence of Mars near the Aries ingress for Russia also stand out. Finally, there is the interesting coincidence that that the Aries and Cancer ingress chart both have 19 Libra rising.

Pakistan Aries Ingress 2010 Russian Aries Ingress 2010 Russian Cancer Ingress 2010 Mark

I dont have any real input, especially because for example here it is quite fresh, not so hot.

I believe it should be Saturn cooling effect.

This is Magini, De Mutatione Aeris Libellus, recently translated by Bezza:

"the conjunction of Saturn with Mars....the quality of this conjunction is producing hailstorm, if other factors agree: it generates rains and hailstorm in the wet signs and multiplies clouds and winds, denies rains, corrupts air and all destroyes according the nature of the prevailing planet, in the place both the are and the rest of the causes.....The union of these planets rain in the spring, in summer thunderstorm and hailstorm, in autumn rain or cloudy air, in winter it abates cold. "

I looked at the full Moon before the starting of the fires in Russia.
The Sun is the light above the horizon. It is in a hot and dry quadrant. It is in ruled by Jupiter which has the exaltation, and Mars the term.
Both planets behold the Sun, and both are hot in nature.

margherita

This is Magini, De Mutatione Aeris Libellus, recently translated by Bezza:

"the conjunction of Saturn with Mars....the quality of this conjunction is producing hailstorm, if other factors agree: it generates rains and hailstorm in the wet signs and multiplies clouds and winds, denies rains, corrupts air and all destroyes according the nature of the prevailing planet, in the place both the are and the rest of the causes.....The union of these planets rain in the spring, in summer thunderstorm and hailstorm, in autumn rain or cloudy air, in winter it abates cold. "

I am not sure how useful it is to take these references too literally. The first consideration is surely which climate zone you are describing?. I would suggest the astrology has to fit into that meterological context rather than direct it. If your in the middle of the Sahara desert you can obviously expect sun , heat and more heat. Hailstorms would be most interesting. Although maybe sandstorms are an option.

Regarding Saturn Ptolemy says it is principally cooling and also drying. These two qualities (cold and dry together) are the worst mix in terms of denying fertility and creativity. Again according to Ptolemy Mars is mainly drying, but also heating, a combination that quickly leads to burning. This Saturn and Mars are very dry as they are both occidental and nearing the end of their phase with the Sun. Ptolemy suggests this makes them cooler and drier. Lilly sees this more as cold and moist. I agree this cannot help pinpoint the exact events in Russia and Pakistan precisely.

The question still remains as you suggest why Pakistan and Russia rather than somewhere else?

I was taking the more liberal approach that a Mars-Saturn conjunction simply brought out the more malefic potential of both these differing climate zones. I also think the Mars-Saturn conjunction can be seen as a catalyst for activitaing the Saturn Rx in these Aries ingress charts. Its also worth simply noting the angular planets in each ingress chart. The Mars in the Russian chart is near the MC and in Leo emphasizing its hot dry potential. Venus (ASC ruler) in the Russian chart is also angular in the hot, dry ,fiery sign of Aries. The Moon is the angular planet in the Pakistani ingress chart. The symbolism of the Moon links to water and it is more moist in this waxing part of its phase to the Sun. The Moon is in a cold, dry sign I accept. However, its sect light in a night chart in a feminine chart.We seem to have too much of a good thing here with an angular, waxing, Moon in its sign of exaltation. Finally, it forms that much discussed conjunction with Algol by ecliptical projection. This all fits the theme of excess.

I will take a look at the pre-lunation chart for both countries. Although I do think there is a more fundamental issue of climate change underlying such events.

Mark

Mark wrote: I am not sure how useful it is to take these references too literally. The first consideration is surely which climate zone you are describing?. The astrology has to fit into that meterological context rather than direct it. If your in the middle of the Sahara desert you can obviously expect sun , heat and more heat. Hailstorms would be most interesting. Although maybe sandstorms are an option.

I don't agree- obviously

These are consideration made about the qualities of planets according their essential and accidental nature- first of all the phase of the epicycle.

Obviously Magini was talking about the continent he knew, ie the Europe.

Moreover I believe that traditional astrology should be based on texts; if we discard those, I don't know what we are talking about.

Regarding Saturn Ptolemy says it is principally cooling and also drying. These two qualities (cold and dry together) are the worst mix in terms of denying fertility and creativity. Again according to Ptolemy Mars is mainly drying, but also heating, a combination that quickly leads to burning. This Saturn and Mars are very dry as they are both occidental and nearing the end of their phase with the Sun. Ptolemy suggests this makes them cooler and drier. Lilly sees this more as cold and moist. I agree this cannot help pinpoint the exact events in Russia and Pakistan precisely.

But if fires depend on Mars-Saturn conjunction why for example here in Italy it is not so hot?
On the contrary being Saturn the ruler of Summer sizygy

http://www.cieloeterra.it/sizigie/2010.02/roma.html

here it is strangely temperate; ie it is hot but not too much.

Why in Russia on the other hand so much hot and dry? It could be just Mars in my logic.

Is our traditional astrology too limited in scope to tackle such a global issue? Or is it just down to the limited knowledge and skill of the artist?

I don't believe this. In every century there are peaks of hot and cold, Russian hot could be one of those years, without thinking about permanent disasters.

margherita

Hello Margherita,

I accept its not enough to look at ingress charts. The eclipse and lunation charts are most interesting and revealing. You do seem to have found some interesting links there. I was just trying to get a discussion going. I dont have time to put up every potential chart. So I am really grateful when members like yourself contribute other relevant material like this.

The forum only really works with people joining in. Whether they agree with me or not is not the point. Its the participation and discussion I seek to engender.

Still, I do think there is something about the timing of these events being so close to the Mars-Saturn conjunction.

These are consideration made about the qualities of planets according their essential and accidental nature- first of all the phase of the epicycle.

Yes I know. I already acknowledged this above in my comments about Mars and Saturn in their essential nature and current planetary phase.

Obviously Magini was talking about the continent he knew, ie the Europe.

I dont have time to properly pick up this issue here right now but I will just briefly mention Ptolemy's emphasis differing climate zones in the Tetrabiblos. Its not a radical or modern idea.

I believe that traditional astrology should be based on texts; if we discard those, I don't know what we are talking about.

While I have respect for that kind of view I want to emphasize this isn't the traditional forum so there is no expectation that contributers have to take that kind of position on the mundane forum. I welcome comments from astrologers with all perspectives.

Chat later

Mark

One obvious link is the Mars-Saturn conjunction of Mars-Saturn at 00.49 Libra. This took place on July 30th-31st. So could the Mars-Saturn conjunction be the trigger for this?

Hi, mark

to know the effects of this conjunction, and other astrological quick events, we can more often than not find where it will occur by looking at the new or full moon before the conjunction, and looking where it was angular.
It obviously is not perfect, but we can see that this line has crossed moscow and is close to pakistan.

It is usually better to look for tragedies in the eclipses rather than in the ingresses. The lunar eclipse for Pakistan has mars on the MC and the solar eclipse close to the IC.

For moskow, the ASC of lunar eclipse is in contra-asticia to mars, but I think I should cast a chart for the origin of the fires, which I am not of the exact location.

best regards.

this is a good example of Mars- Saturn according Magini, and not so far from Russia, in Poland:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... gD9HFA5J02

margherita

Hi looking at this in my typical "event chart" type way. Its interesting that Mars first made contact in Libra with the opposition to Uranus in Mars's rulership in Aries, with Jupiter sitting there as "the amplifier". Both events , in Russia and Pakistan are made extraordinary by the same phenomena, high altitude air currents (Uranus link?). This contact between Uranus and Mars has brough a highly unusual movement and setting for the Jet Stream which is further north in Russia than usual , thus allowing more heat from the south , and is also stuck over Pakistan whipping the typical monsoon patterns into a greater frenzy .

I'd guess that Mars then making contact with Saturn after Uranus, underlines the dire destructive consequences of this pattern??

regards mike c

Margherita wrote:

But if fires depend on Mars-Saturn conjunction why for example here in Italy it is not so hot? On the contrary being Saturn the ruler of Summer sizygy

http://www.cieloeterra.it/sizigie/2010.02/roma.html

Is the Summer syzygy just an illustrative example? Presumably in instances like Pakistan, Russia and now China you would would check the closest prior lunation? Your putting a lot of faith in pre-syzygycharts to pick up such events. Have you actually researched this?

Yuzuru wrote:

to know the effects of this conjunction, and other astrological quick events, we can more often than not find where it will occur by looking at the new or full moon before the conjunction, and looking where it was angular.

Thanks. Any particular traditional source you are getting this from?

Yuzuru wrote:

It is usually better to look for tragedies in the eclipses rather than in the ingresses. The lunar eclipse for Pakistan has mars on the MC and the solar eclipse close to the IC.

Thats a useful tip. I will keep that in mind.

What software is that you are using?

For moskow, the ASC of lunar eclipse is in contra-asticia to mars, but I think I should cast a chart for the origin of the fires, which I am not of the exact location.

Yes this might prove exceptionally difficult as hundreds of fires have broken out. I will probably just use Moscow as the effects are quite bad there too and it is the Federal capital.

Over the last few days the flooding in Pakistan has also been experienced in north-western China.

More than 700 people are now known to have died in a massive landslide in north-west China - making it one of the deadliest incidents so far in the country's worst flooding in a decade. A frantic search is continuing for the more than 1,000 people still missing. Buildings were hit by a wall of mud so mighty that buildings seven storeys high crumpled like paper, says the BBC's Chris Hogg, in Gansu province. He says rescuers are searching by hand in the remote, mountainous region. BBC News: 10/08/2010

Mike Coop wrote:

Both events , in Russia and Pakistan are made extraordinary by the same phenomena, high altitude air currents (Uranus link?). This contact between Uranus and Mars has brough a highly unusual movement and setting for the Jet Stream which is further north in Russia than usual , thus allowing more heat from the south , and is also stuck over Pakistan whipping the typical monsoon patterns into a greater frenzy

.

Yes I just heard today about this theory that these extreme weather events are linked to a disruption in the Jet stream.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg2 ... amine.html

The jet stream has apparently split in two. One arm has gone north, another south. The patch in the middle is Russia's drought. A circulating pattern of air has been sitting over Russia for far longer than normal, causing the extreme temperatures and wildfires they've had there. But what's happening over Pakistan is even stranger. The southern arm of the Jet stream has looped down so far it has crossed over the Himalayas into north western Pakistan. Experts at the Met Office state this is very unusual. And the result is that the fast moving jets stream winds high up has helped suck the warm, wet, monsoon air even faster and higher into the atmosphere - and that has caused rains like no-one can remember. It has turbo charged the monsoon if you like. They're not sure that's ever happened before.

So what is causing all this to happen?

Meteorologists are unsure. Climate change models predict that rising greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere will drive up the number of extreme heat events. Whether this is because greenhouse gas concentrations are linked to blocking events or because of some other mechanism entirely is impossible to say. Gerald Meehl of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado ? who has done much of this modelling himself ? points out that the resolution in climate models is too low to reproduce atmospheric patterns like blocking events. So they cannot say anything about whether or not their frequency will change.New Scientist Magazine

Having said that there are those that link this directly to climate change:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... cause.html

Any particular traditional source you are getting this from?

None in particular. This and the piece about eclipses are just personal observation and opinion.

It is hard to cast a chart for the exact conjunction of mars and saturn! So I started to think what the ancients would do, and of course they would look for a chart that could "materialize" the effects of the conjunction, the same way they did with ingresses and the great conjunctions.

best regards.