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Nelson Mandela – An Astro-obituary






"When beggars die there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes."

Julius Caesar (II, ii, 30-31)

South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has died at the age of 95. Mr Mandela led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison for his political activities. He had been receiving intensive medical care at home for a lung infection after spending three months in hospital. Mr Zuma said Mr Mandela - who is known affectionately by his clan name, Madiba - had died shortly before 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on 5 Dec. He said he would receive a full state funeral, and flags would be flown at half-mast.

Nelson Mandela was born 18 July, 1918; 3 pm; Umtata, South Africa. His horoscope along with an excellent interpretation from Liz Greene is available at the Astrodienst website[1]. Here we will look at some Fixed Stars. His radix Sun [25cn04] is conjunct Procyon, alpha Canis Minor [24cn40]

Procyon inspires our allegiance to a greater cause, purpose, or faction. It inspires us to ally with another or with a group to achieve a greater purpose than we could achieve alone [2]. The name Procyon is that of the navigator of the heavenly ship Argo, whose crew made the epic journey in search of the Golden Fleece. It represents navigator – steersmen who come among us and take us further along the road while they are with us, then join Procyon beyond mortal life to inspire us still. Some of them live lives dramatically like Jesus or Giordano Bruno facing opposition, jealousy and envy from enemies [3].




The lunar eclipse of 18 Oct. with Moon [25ar45] and Sun [25li45] fell exactly square Mandela’s Sun in his eighth house  of death. In the eclipse chart  we find an exalted Jupiter [19cn] in caring and nurturing Cancer placed in the 12th house square the eclipse axis and therefore highlighted by it. Among other things the twelfth house rules slavery and human rights issues [4].  The Moon [25ar45] is conjunct 22 Andromedae [24ar37] a star in the chained right hand of the woman – a perfect symbol for slavery. The Sun, on the other hand, is conjunct Arcturus, [24li24] alpha Bootes often shown as a protector or a herdsman and Spica, alpha Virgo [24li] the innocent Virgin he protects. There is idealism, impassioned independence, an aggressive, resourceful approach to life and a fierce fighting instinct, although under the influence of the Virgin and tropical Libra, many also prize and work for peace (the Arab manzil here is called “The Unarmed One”, possibly a reference to the strong devotion of some born under these stars to peace and a higher will)[5].


Eclipses often announce the death of well known personalities. If we progress this eclipse to 5 Dec we find Jupiter on the MC and the progressed horizon aligning perfectly with the eclipse axis on that date signifying the death of someone with attributes described above!






[3] The Living Stars; Dr. Eric Morse
[4] Eclipse highlights slavery and human rights issues
[5] Secrets of the Ancient Skies, Diana K. Rosenberg (v.2, p. 113-115)


P.S. A chart for the moment of death speaks loudly too. Jupiter on the Ascendant forms a T with the Uranus-Pluto square . This square speaks about a clash: courageous/warrior-like actions of individuals on behalf of the people's liberties (Uranus in Aries) vs. an intensification/consolidation of power by institutional structures facing threats to their authority (Pluto in Capricorn). With Uranus retrograde it may refer to the past. Jupiter  in the Scorpio decan of the sign Cancer is reminding us about the death of one such warrior.  Cancer, ruled by the Moon herself, is the sign of the Great Mother (matter), the womb/tomb from which all comes and to which all goes to be reborn once more.




 

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