The Diary of an Astrological Citizen - Considerations on the US chart
March 26, 2008 – Today I became a US citizen. Personally, it means that I am closer to my American children and grand children, that I will share the same national state of affairs, rejoicing or grieving together according to the circumstances. But astrologically what does it mean to be part of the collective soul of the United States?
Nations, like people, have a birth chart and the United States of America is no exception. The same way the individual psyche can be interpreted through the birth chart, the psyche of the United States of America can be understood through the energies operating in the moment of becoming an independent nation. But when was that exactly?
Most of us will immediately say: July 4th, 1776. However, historian and writer David McCullough, who has extensively researched the period surrounding the Declaration of Independence reached the conclusion that it was on July 2nd that the United States came into being. His assertion is backed by other important constitutional historians and by information contained in a letter from John Adams to his wife written on July 3rd where his prose shows he was sure that July 2nd was going to be celebrated as the national day.
So what happened? And why do we celebrate the birth of the United States on July 4th? I believe, based on circumstantial evidence that Benjamin Franklin, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was astrologically motivated to intervene.
Ben Franklin was probably the only Founding Father that had a working knowledge of astrology. For 25 years he had been the publisher and contributor of Poor Richards Almanac which featured “Lunations, Eclipses, Judgements of Weather, Planets motions and mutual Aspects”. On July 2nd, 1776, the date John Adams believed to be the birthday of the newly formed nation, the Moon was in the sign of Capricorn. In the astrology of nations the Moon represents its people, the public in general and classical astrology considers the Moon in Capricorn to be in its detriment. Ben Franklin was certainly aware of this fact. He believed astrology to be a valid forecasting system and could be thinking that the American people might encounter stumbling blocks, restrictions, difficulties if burdened with a Capricorn moon. On the other hand, the 4th of July chart is potent with symbolism corresponding to the birth of the newly independent nation: the fixed star Regulus (latin word for prince) was setting signifying the end of the monarch, the Moon was now in the progressive, idealistic sign of Aquarius and the Sun was in the 13th degree of Cancer conjunct the fixed star Sirius, the brightest star of the sky. The number 13 also reflected the 13 colonies.
I like to think that Benjamin Franklin influenced John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress, to sign the document that gave birth to this great nation at an auspicious date and time - July 4th, 1776, at 5.10 pm.
That horoscope calculated for Philadelphia is known as the Sibly chart, so named after English astrologer Ebenezer Sibly who made it public. He was a member of a Masonic lodge in England and it was probably through Masonic ties with Franklin who was an active member of Philadelphia Lodge, that Sibly obtained first hand information that allowed him to set a chart for such a precise time. Based on that chart that he cast in 1787 Sibly predicted that America would one day become “ a new Empire that shall soon or late give laws to the whole world” . (1 )
Since historians are unable to agree on the moment for the signing of the Declaration of Independence the only confirmation of the probable time of this moment that changed the history of nations comes from an astrologer. As an astrologer I rejoice in this knowledge.
The Sibly chart has Sagittarius rising ruled by the benefic planet Jupiter. The rising sign shows the way a nation expresses its collective personality, the myths and images it creates and the way foreigners view it. The mythic cowboy, riding towards the sunset in search of adventure and new land is the perfect example of a national Sagittarian myth.
The personal rising sign or ascendant shows how we reveal our personality to the world, how we manifest our inner being. My raising sign is Capricorn, the complementary energy to Sagittarius.
Sagittarius expands, Capricorn restricts; Sagittarius sees the glass half full, Capricorn sees the glass half empty; Sagittarius believes, Capricorn doubts; Sagittarius is optimistic, Capricorn is realistic; Sagittarius spends, Capricorn saves.
Carl Jung said that the psychology of the individual is reflected in the psychology of a nation. But I contend that the opposite is also true. As I join into this nation I have become part of the American collective psyche to affect and be influenced.
In this period of our history when we are asked to re evaluate our Sagittarian excesses that have lead us to the financial crisis and implement Capricornian restraint, I like to think that my own energy will be a positive contribution to the whole. When I became an American , the collective psyche of the United States changed by an infinitesimal amount to a more contained, realistic, cautious one. On the other hand I am sure that the Sagittarian spirit of believing that anything is possible will inspire me and increase my capacity to see light at the end of the tunnel. I trust that we will both win.
April 5, 2009
LuizaAzancot©2009
(1) The Fated Sky, Benson Bobrick, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2006, page 249
