Parts of California's wine region are
being ravaged by fast-spreading fires that have killed at least 10 people. Mass
evacuations have taken place and at least 1,500 properties have been destroyed.
Seven people were killed in Sonoma county, authorities said. About 20,000
people fled from Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties after some of the state's
worst-ever wildfires broke out. The governor of California has declared an
emergency. Oct. 10; http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41559875
Mundane
astrology, the study of heavenly cycles upon groups and nations is the most
ancient branch of astrology. Among other techniques, horoscopes
set up for the phases of the Moon are
used routinely by astrologers to understand the reason behind events at any
place. The news of the California fire
comes just ahead of the Last Quarter Moon. A chart for the Moon phase at Sonoma
has Mars on the Ascendant square Saturn. Ebertin links a Mars-Saturn
combination with “destructive energy”. Here Mars is conjunct the star Alkes of
the Crater and Denebola of the Lion while Saturn is conjunct stars of Ara, the
burning altar.
Alpha
(α) Crater, Alkes, is a 4th magnitude orange star in the base of the Cup. Manilius
described Crater as 'gratus Iaccho Crater' (Iaccho is Roman Bacchus who is
identified with Greek Dionysus) and wrote:
"He [those influenced by
the Crater in astrology] will join your vines, Bacchus [translator's note;
'grapevines for the production of wine'], in wedlock to your elms; or he will
arrange them on props, so that the fronds resemble the figures in a dance or,
allowing your vine to rely on its own strength, he will lead it to spread out
its branches as arms, and entrusting you to yourself will forever protect you
from the bridal bed, seeing how you were cut from your mother (Semele, daughter
of Cadmus)”. [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st
century AD, book 5, p.318-321].
Beta
(β) Leo, Denebola, [22vi] is a blue star in the tail of the Lion. A Euphratean
title for Denebola was Mikid-isati, the Burning
of Fire. Nick Fiorenza adds that Denebola conjoins Alpha Antilia, the air
pump which produces the hot air fueling the fire and swirling the obscuring
smoke.
Putting the pieces together is it too difficult to see why
the vineyards are on fire!
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