Gryphon Astrology Blog

The terrible China earthquake earlier this year shocked the world, both due to its strength and because of its deadly consequences. China is a huge country; and an earthquake in China is no rarity. However, earthquakes of this magnitude (8.0 on the Richter scale) are notable events, and when we look at the astrological indications for China, the earthquake announced itself loud and clear. More than that, there were definite parallels between the 2008 China earthquake and the one in 1927, which killed over 200,000 people.

All major events like earthquakes in China (or anywhere else) must flow from a basic horoscope for that country. There is no certain horoscope for the moment that the current People’s Republic of China began. We do know that it was in the fall of 1949, and the most reliable method is to look at the great conjunction horoscope prior to the institution of the country.

Is China Earthquake-Prone?

We can see that there are going to be several sensitive points announcing an earthquake in China before it occurs. The Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in an earth sign will be important, especially since Saturn rules the 4th house of the earth and the subterranean in the great conjunction horoscope. Mercury will be important because it is the natural significator of earthquakes. An earthquake in the China horoscope can also be linked with Venus, as it rules the 1st house and is positioned right on the powerful 10th house cusp.

The China Earthquake of 2008

In March 2008, the secondary progressed Mercury opposed the great conjunction. As we discussed, Mercury rules earthquakes.

The Aries ingress of 2008 set for Beijing has a very problematic complex of planets indicative of an earthquake in China. A weak and malefic Mercury in Pisces is conjunct Venus, ruler of the ingress fourth house of the earth, with all of this trine a very nasty Mars in the sign of its fall (indicating falling buildings) in the 12th house. Mars rules the 10th house of the ingress chart, and it is sextile Saturn in Virgo, ruling the seventh house. Planets ruling angles are very important in ingress charts, because the planets are emphasized from one location to the next. Saturn is also in an earth sign, which can increase our suspicions of an earthquake in China in the coming year. Finally, Mars in the ingress chart conjoins Venus in the great conjunction horoscope, right at the top of the chart.

The 1927 Earthquake of China

This huge earthquake in China in 1927 makes this year’s earthquake look like an amateur, in terms of the damage caused. If we look at the 1927 secondary progressions compared to the grand conjunction chart (which did not yet exist, but works very well) we see secondary progressed Mars square the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, and the ascendant of the 1927 Aries ingress is conjunct Venus. We see that any major earthquake in China will likely trigger these two points in the great conjunction horoscope.

The Aries ingress again has Mercury in Pisces conjunct a strong benefic, this time Jupiter in Pisces. As we mentioned earlier, Mercury has strong significations for earthquakes in China (actually, all locations due to Mercury = earthquakes). Mercury and Jupiter are in the fourth house, the angle of the earth, with Jupiter ruling the fourth house. Mercury rules the 10th house. All this is squared by Mars, ruler of the first house. Saturn in Sagittarius is in partile square to the fourth/10th house axis, afflicting the earth and heaven.

Due to China’s large population, earthquakes in China can be truly deadly, with great loss of life and damage to property. The 1927 earthquake of China came through very clear, and we could also look at the horoscope for the prior Chinese state and compare it with the 1927 Aries ingress. It is just as effective to look ahead, even though nobody in 1927 could have guessed that a new Republic will be formed under the 1940 great conjunction horoscope. Perhaps this is just proof that everything in the cosmos is unfolding as it should, and time is just an illusion, from the highest perspective.

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The long-term weather forecast gnome is back forecasting California weather (at least in the San Francisco Bay area) for July 08. He has been on hiatus in the last few months, but this summer’s quite unusual weather forecast for California roused him out of his gnomish slumber.

California has been having hundreds and hundreds of wildfires, most of them started on June 20 and 21st by dry thunderstorms that swept through Northern California. Since the vegetation in that area is normally so dry this time of year, many wildfires started due to lightning with no rain. A smoky haze has been hanging over this area for a week, with little wind to disperse the smoke. The weather forecast gnome suspected something like this when he first examined the Cancer ingress chart earlier in the year, yet he was quite surprised by the sheer magnitude of the Northern California wildfires.

The Cancer ingress chart shows fire quite clearly, as it has Mars in Leo, a fire signs on the midheaven. Mars normally indicates heat, but in California in the summer, hot temperatures very easily translate to lots of fires. The fact that Leo is a fixed sign with all the angles of the chart in fixed signs, adds to the persistent nature of the fires. Not to mention the unwholesome smoke hovering everywhere.

The obscured Sun specifically is indicated by the Saturn-Sun sextile, and the smoky haze is brought by Saturn sextile Venus. Saturn-influenced hazes and winds are always unhealthy and cause breathing problems.

Amazingly, the full Moon before the Cancer ingress 25 Leo ascending, dramatically highlighting the Mars-Midheaven combination in the ingress chart.

From the ingress chart, we can see that June 22 was going to be especially critical with regard to the promised fires.

July Long-Term Weather Forecast

June 26 — July 2, 2008. The unpleasant smoky haze brought by the ingress on June 20 persists. Saturn continues to sextile the Sun, thereby obscuring its light.

July 2 — July 9, 2008. Pleasant weather, with some clouds and much-needed rain. Some isolated thunderstorms with intense winds.  Look for increased clouds/rain or cooler temperatures around the 5th.

July 9 — July 18, 2008. More thunderstorms and wind, mostly on the dry side.  The Moon will trigger some of this around the 12th of July.

July 18 — July 25, 2008. Possible rain, with cooler temperatures early in the week, especially near the 20th. Later in the week, isolated dry and windy thunderstorms. Some fires may result, but nowhere near the grand scale seen at the start of summer.

July 25 — August 1, 2008. More thunderstorms right around the 26th, continuing the conditions seen during the previous week; cloudy and unpleasant. The end of the week, around the 1st, will bring nicer weather.

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