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he summer of 2010 will witness somepowerful planetary configurations. AGrand Cross forms in June at the fullmoon, and a Cardinal T-Square takesshape as July comes to a close. These astro-logical aspects may be the most intense inseven decades. Astrologers are watching,wondering, and trying to interpret their in-fluence. Everyone on Earth will feel these en-ergies, although the perceived effect willdiffer based on individual charts and states ofconsciousness. These configurations will alsohave a strong connection to the birth chartof the United States, presenting potentiallytransforming energies.Astrology has been described as the studyof cycles in which the real and apparent mo-tions of the Sun, Moon and planets are ob-served relative to Earth. People have gazed atthe sky for countless ages, searching formeaning and purpose through the Law ofCorrespondences. This law is sometimes

T• BY JULIE LOAR

Chronus,at the

“There is geometry in the humming ofthe strings, there is music in the spacing ofthe spheres.” Pythagorus

ASTROLOGY

What Can We Learn from Potent Astrological AspectsGathering for this Summer?stated as the Her-metic Axiom: “Asabove, so below; aswithin, so without.”The premise is that pat-terns in earthly affairscan be perceived by under-standing the symbolic sig-nificance of repeating pat-terns in the heavens.The Zodiac is a circular bandof space above and below the eclipticplane, the orbit of Earth and theplanets, and the apparent path of the Sun.A horoscope is a circle with Earth at thesymbolic center. The origin of the word isthe Greek horoscopus, meaning “watcherof the hour.” This refers to the Ascendant, orthe sign rising in the east at the moment ofbirth. This idea seems to have emergedabout the time of Alexander when the focusbegan to shift from watching portents in thesky solely on behalf of king and country tolooking at the astrological influences in thecharts of individuals.The three main factors in any astrolog-ical chart are the Sun, Moon, and Ascen-dant. The Ascendant is not a planet, or celes-tial body, but an angle—the easternhorizon. The Midheaven, the point directlyoverhead the birth place, is the other pri-mary angle in a horoscope. The Tropical Zo-diac, which is based on the seasons and theapparent cycle of the Sun, is used in mostnatal charts in Western astrology. Theplanets are placed within this symbolicwheel of the seasons, and their positions arecalculated at the exact moment of birth.In addition to a planet’s position by signand house, planets are also interpretedbased on their angular relationship to oneanother. These are called aspects. An astro-logical aspect is the distance measured indegrees and minutes of Celestial Longitudealong the ecliptic. Aspects are viewed fromthe Earth and are computed between two ormore planets around or across a horoscope.

Planets are the primary archetypes em-bedded in astrology, and their aspects are in-terpreted as focal points in the horoscopewhere combined planetary energies are givenextra emphasis. The more exact an aspect is,the more its influence is felt. Usually, aspectsare formed between two planets, although as-pects between planets and the Ascendant andMidheaven are also considered. Aspects aredivided into: major or minor, and harmo-nious or stressful. Generally, major aspectsare more powerful than minor, but there areexceptions based on context. When theplanets move within orb of the angle, the as-pect builds, reaching maximum influencewhen the degrees of separation are exact. Asthe planets separate, the influence decreases,disappearing as they slip out of orb.Each aspect has its own signature, ormanner of expressing, and not all aspectscombine planetary energy in the same way.When two planetary energies connect, theyeither blend harmoniously or produce ten-sion according to the nature of the planets orthe geometry of the aspects. Harmonious as-pects are characterized as easy and positive,and tense aspects as difficult or hard. Chal-lenging aspects bring difficulties which canresult in great achievement, while harmo-nious aspects bring easy conditions whichmay lead to wasted opportunities.Tense aspects cause friction which bringspsychological and environmental challenges,or a combination of both. Friction may beuncomfortable, but it can stimulate growth.Coping with challenges may stimulatesomeone to overcome difficulties and developtheir astrological potential. Individuals withonly harmonious aspects may have plenty ofpotential but no drive to develop it, whilethose with only tense aspects may lack posi-tive direction and forward momentum. A bal-ance of friction and harmony produces a con-structive mix in which to gain the most fromlife experiences. To the ancients, certain aspects and cer-tain planets were considered either good (be-

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nefic) or bad (malefic). Modern opinion ismore philosophical and psychological andseeks to understand how the dynamics andsynergy of the horoscope can promote soulgrowth through the exercise of the will andconscious choice. This approach is more intune with research on astrological har-monics. John Addey was a major proponentof this view in England, and Johannes Keplerproposed similar ideas in his book Harmo-nice Mundi as far back as 1619. Aspects can also be character-ized by their harmonics, groupingthem into similar numeric pat-terns. In this way, aspects may beunderstood through the princi-ples of numerology. The nine as-pects listed below are harmonicwith the numbers 1-9 and are cal-culated by dividing the circle bythose numbers. Among other as-pects are the semi-sextile of 30degrees, harmonic with thenumber 12. Its key word is ten-sion. The semi-sextile offers a sortof reciprocal friction between al-ternate polarities. The inconjunctaspect is 150 degrees and isthought to demand adjustmentsin beliefs and behavior.1 Conjunction zero degrees.Combines two or more planetsin a concentrated and blendedenergy.2 Opposition 180 degrees. Offers Continued on Page 73

6 Sextile 60 degrees. Offers balanced ener-gies and opportunities.7 Septile 52 degrees. Reveals a healing chal-lenge and often gives a “defining moment”in life.8 Semi-square 45 degrees, sometimes calledoctile. Brings growth-producing friction.9 Novile 40 degrees. Offers decisions andchoices which have a quality of destiny.Aspects can also combine theenergies of planets into larger andmore complicated groups. When anumber of planets combine inthis way, they form an energeticgeometry—a three-dimensionalsignature. These patterns take onmeanings of their own. Such ge-ometry, like the square aspect for-mations of 2010, magnetize chal-lenges and life lessons in a moredramatic and compelling manner,creating a potent archetype field.In a natal chart they bring life-long lessons. When they appearby transit they offer uniquegrowth opportunities.This summer, the powerful en-ergies of Pluto in Capricorn,Uranus in Aries, and Saturn inLibra are arranging themselves inthe early degrees of the CardinalSigns. This is like a vortex of

awareness through conflict or cooperation.3 Trine 120 degrees. Brings planets togetherin an easy flow which must be harnessedand channeled through the will.4 Square 90 degrees. Creates friction andblocks between planets which can fuelgrowth.5 Quintile 72 degrees. Bestows talent and in-nate gifts which must be harnessed and de-veloped.a typical natalastrologicalchart

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ASTROLOGYContinued from Page 49

ator with shark-like teeth by running likehell and diving into the eye socket! Hunt ap-parently only wanted to expose young Andyto the hostile surface and never bothered tobring him to the huge, joint human-Martianunderground city. After that experience, whocould blame Basiago for fixing his determina-tion to become a whistleblower.

Basiago may well be the most educatedand articulate whistleblower in recentmemory. He holds, he says, five degrees in-cluding a B.A. in History from UCLA and anM.A. in Philosophy from Cambridge Univer-sity as well as his LLB in Environmental Lawfrom the Northwestern School of Law. Hehas, for the last ten years, been assiduouslyresearching what is known about ProjectPegasus in preparation for making his sensa-tional public revelations, and he has conse-quently become very well versed in the his-tory of the program. That research hasenabled him, he says, to trace the origins ofthe space-time science and technology andhow it ended up in the hands of Curtiss-Wright and Parsons. He learned that it allbegan with—guess who?—Nikola Tesla, ofcourse. It is purported that in Tesla’s finalyears, he worked for the U.S. Navy on the In-visibility Project, and that’s how he came tobe involved in the Philadelphia Experiment.Tesla died alone in his suite at the NewYorker Hotel on January 7, 1943, at the ageof 86, before the Philadelphia Experimentwas conducted in October of that year. Ba-siago tells us that immediately after hisdeath, two teams of two men each raced tohis hotel suite to retrieve his papers. Oneteam was from the War Department and theother from the FBI. The War Departmentmen arrived first and seized Tesla’s lab man-uals. The incident led, it is said, to the wea-ponization of Tesla’s work for the foreseeablefuture. The manuals, the results of the lastfifteen or twenty years of Tesla’s researchduring which he had developed the details ofteleportation technology, were sent to thescientists at Los Alamos, then the ManhattanProject. It was hoped by the military that tel-eportation would allow them to strategicallyplace fighting men at critical locations intactwithout the losses involved in getting themthere. But, says Basiago, “the net effect ofthat decision, however appropriate it wasduring a time of world war, prevented tele-portation from being introduced in the ci-vilian sector as potentially our dominantform of transportation.“

Basiago may not have considered that thequestion of the release of advanced tech-nology to the public can be a very compli-cated one. What would happen to interna-tional borders if every country hadteleportation technology? Forget passports,fences, immigration, and national security—anyone could live anywhere. Such a situationwould be feasible only if human conscious-ness could be raised sufficiently to eliminatesuch things as war and terrorism. And howwould time travel revolutionize our lives ifwe all knew the future—and we could gothere? We would be at the portal of a very dif-ferent planet than the one we have known.

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strong wind currents. In this case, it’s thewinds of change which can be harnessed.Saturn and Uranus have seesawed in and outof five oppositions since 2008, and they willnow move into Libra and Aries. In addition,Saturn will be joined by Mars in Libra, andas Jupiter enters Aries in June, he will con-join Uranus.

These dynamic geometries hold the po-tential for personal andplanetary transformation,according to where they ac-tivate horoscopes. Tensionand stress which are fo-cused constructively canbring a higher state ofawareness and an opennessto new paradigms. Positiveexpression can bring crea-tive breakthroughs andquantum leaps and ad-vances in science. Resis-tance to this energy clingsto old and outworn pat-terns and beliefs.

Grand CrossA Grand Cross is com-

posed of planets at the fourarms of a cross. All are in square aspect, or90 degrees, to each other. It’s an intense ge-ometry, like a crossroads, that can bring is-sues to a head and ask for choices and deci-sions about direction. June 26, 2010, at thefull moon, a Grand Cross will form. Sevenplanets are involved. Jupiter and Uranus inAries oppose Saturn in Libra. The full Moonand Pluto in Capricorn oppose the Sun andMercury in Cancer. We are advised, individu-ally and collectively, to take a hard look atwhat’s not working. It may be time to choosea new way. The Sun and Mercury will overlayVenus and Jupiter in the chart of the UnitedStates bringing a focal point of tension toour nation’s relationships, both at home andabroad.

Cardinal T-SquareA T-Square aspect is formed by an opposi-

tion of 180 degrees between two planets,both of which are square to a third. Addi-tional planets may also be involved. Viewedanother way, connecting the points from theoutside, this angular relationship forms anisosceles triangle. We have the choice tofocus on the blocked energy or to seek theinsight within the energy pattern to releasethe flow. On August 1, 2010, five planetsform this aspect. Saturn and Mars in Libraoppose Uranus and Jupiter in Aries. All foursquare Pluto in Capricorn. In this case, theresolving energy flows to Pluto and the pos-sibility of transforming structures of power.

If we examine this aspect of geometryusing the mythic language of archetypes in-herited from the Greeks, both aspects square

off three powerful gods. Pluto, Lord of theUnderworld, is in Capricorn offering thetransformation of organizations. Saturn,principle of form, is in Libra bringing hardwork and challenges to relationships of alltypes. And Uranus, Lord of the Sky, is inAries presenting a focus on personal freedomwith an influence of rapid change and unex-pected shifts in circumstances. Together, themessage might be stated simply as: Face theshadow of the past (Pluto); reform outwornstructures (Saturn); and rebuild the futureaccording to a new and revolutionary vision(Uranus).

Changing the gameAstrology contains a par-

adox that is demonstrated inthe words of the Roman phi-losopher, Seneca. “TheFates lead he who will. Hewho won’t, they drag.” Theancient system of wisdomcalled astrology is notmeant to be an external pro-cess. An individual, or a na-tion, is not a passive by-stander or unwitting victimof circumstances beyondtheir control. Astrology isn’ta Wheel of Fortune, spin-ning and stopping with noapparent pattern and oper-ating like a game of chance.This is an illusion that keeps

us blind and feeling powerless. We alwayshave our power of choice, even if it’s onlyhow we respond.

Rather, astrology is meant to be a pow-erful navigational tool. The deeper purpose isto learn to exercise choice, free will, and per-sonal responsibility in order to grow andevolve our full potential. Astrology offers amap which reveals the terrain and enables usto make wise decisions on our life path. Insome ways astrology is akin to weather fore-casting. If we know gale force winds are ex-pected, it’s unwise to set sail in a small craft.Conversely, if we see that timing is optimum,we should take action and not languish onthe shore.

I see our challenge in navigating the seachange of our times, and making the jump tolight speed, as making choices that keep usgrounded and balanced. I also believe it’swise to keep the objective of higher con-sciousness in our sites. We should strive toact rather than react and not become caughtup in polarized rhetoric or apocalyptic hyper-bole thereby confusing the school with thelesson. In other words, we should usecommon sense and the wisdom of experi-ence, to make decisions and chart our coursefor the future. These times of transformationhave been foreseen by numerous and diversecultures around the world. We can choose tomove through them consciously and respon-sibly or be swept along in a maelstrom ofnegativity and confusion. It’s up to us tochoose.

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Astronomers Study Eclipse(Antoine Caron)