The End Of War

Given the unfolding drama yesterday - Wagner versus Putin - people were understandably optimistic about Putin's reign coming to an end. That doesn't necessarily coincide with the Russia-Ukraine War coming to an end as his successor could be just as - or even more - tyrannical.

Astrologers know that whenever transiting Saturn conjuncts transiting Neptune, the current social, financial and political structure of Russia collapses - and is forced to alter/ change/ regenerate/ re-evaluate. The next transiting Saturn-Neptune conjunction will occur in 2025. This process has already begun, there's no doubt about it. But, for now, we must be patient.

Transiting Mercury (communication, media) is currently in a square aspect to Neptune in the War Chart. This indicates mixed messages and misinformation. Was the 'mutiny' by the Wagner Group all that it seemed? No. Is was probably a stunt, or a propaganda exercise.

Transiting Mars is in a quincunx (inconjunct) aspect to the War Chart Mars, indicating that the action is being deflected in some way. Now that the Wagner Group has been relocated to Belarus, it is now closer to Kyiv and away from the main battle zone. 

Astrology is not only useful for analysing current situations in order to gain insight into what's really going on, it also provides a timeframe for future events or opportunities. For more than a year I've been researching the astrology of war in an attempt to find a likely date for the end of the war in Ukraine. It hasn't been easy, to say the least, but it has been fascinating. 

To cut a very long story short, I have discovered a series of planetary periods which indicate the potential for ending this war. These have been derived from other major conflicts centred in Europe, including World War I and World War II. I don't want to say too much just yet but from mid-August to mid-October 2023, there will definitely be a window of opportunity for peace. It's not the only one as these periods occur in cycles, but it is a very optimistic phase, particularly in the first half of October. 

More details in a few weeks.

The War In Ukraine

On the morning of Monday, 10th October 2022, Ukraine was devastated by a massive Russian bombardment of 84 missiles targeting several major cities including the capital Kyiv.

A few hours earlier, the Full Moon was at 16° Aries - exactly opposite President Zelensky's natal Pluto and square Ukraine's Nodal Axis, Neptune and Ascendant. It was also quincunx Pluto in Ukraine's chart and conjunct Eris (revenge). This influence tends to bring impulsive, violent reactions as well as intense emotions and confrontations. 

Transiting Mars was at 22° Gemini - triggering Mars at 22° Capricorn, it's position on the day the war began. It will cross this degree again from the 19th - 23rd November. This planetary influence brings unusually forceful actions and the need to prove dominance. It is also square the war Neptune which indicates critical events and panic.

Transiting Mars has just moved into President Zelensky's natal First House and is conjunct his Ascendant. Mars goes retrograde on 31st October, conjuncting his Ascendant again on 23rd November. and re-entering his 12th House. It won't enter his 1st House properly until 6th March 2023. For more information on this, please read my recent article 'President Zelenskyy - Part 3'. Link: 

https://ephemeralarc.blogspot.com/2022/07/president-zelenskyy-part-3.html

Transiting Saturn is back to it's 'war' position at 18° Aquarius and is being squared by transiting Uranus. This extremely disruptive planetary aspect began in January 2021 and has caused much civil unrest and aggravation. One of the key phrases associated with a Saturn Uranus hard aspect is: 'A desire for change battles against the instinct to hang on, amid displays of rebellion' It will finally come to an end in December 2022 but, as is often the case with major planetary influences, it looks like it's going out with a bang.

Pluto went direct after nearly eight months of being in retrograde motion since the end of April. Coincidence? No. Does this indicate a turning point in the conflict?.Perhaps. Either that or the beginning of a new phase in the war.

The rest of 2022 is going to be, astrologically speaking, a very tough time. On the 25th October there will be a Solar Eclipse in the sign of Scorpio. Six days later transiting Mars will turn retrograde and eight days after that there will be a very powerful Lunar Eclipse in Taurus.