9/11 Revisited

Sunday, September 11 will mark the tenth anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack on US soil, when 19 al Qaeda operatives on four hijacked planes used the aircraft as missiles, killing 2997 Americans. That morning marked a turning point in US and world history, and has completely changed the face of America. It has been used to justify everything from wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to the creation of Homeland Security, an entirely new cabinet-level department of government, and the acquisition of sweeping, draconian powers by the federal government via the USA PATRIOT Act.

The event has also spawned a major break from accepted reality, with the official story of 9/11 being questioned by many Americans. A 2004 Zogby poll showed 49% of New York City residents and 41% of New York state residents believed the Bush administration had advance knowledge of the attacks, and in succeeding years, these numbers have grown. By the fifth anniversary of the tragedy in 2006, 84% of Americans overall believed that government officials were hiding something or largely lying about the truth of that day, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll.

Why this should be so is easy to see. Even at a basic level, many questions remain unanswered by the official record, and even modest probing into the facts of the case reveals a stunning number of bizarre “coincidences.” Never before or since has a building of that size and structure been brought down by fire, and any video footage of the fall of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center will show what looks very much like a controlled demolition, with successive explosions appearing to occur floor by floor, top to bottom, before those levels actually collapsed.

Add to that the destruction of WTC7, which was not struck by any planes, but which did house sensitive FBI and SEC records, and the “collapse from fire-weakened steel” theory becomes even less likely. Both sides of the controversy have summoned their paid experts, no one is without bias, and if the story ended there, we’d have a classic “he said, she said” with no hope of impartial resolution.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Fact: Marvin Bush, George W. Bush’s youngest brother, was a director for Securacom, the company handling security for both the World Trade Center and United Airlines, two of whose planes were hijacked and used in the attacks. When Marvin left the company in 2000, he joined the board of Houston Casualty Company, an insurance firm which underwrote the WTC, and his cousin, Wirt Walker, became CEO of Securacom.

Fact: A heightened state of security at the WTC was cancelled on September 6, just 5 days before the attacks, and bomb-sniffing dogs were removed.

Fact: On September 8 and 9, the weekend before the attacks, WTC2 was powered down for over 36 hours while technicians supervised by Securacom installed new cable upgrades for WTC computers. During this period, security cameras were not functioning, security locks were disabled, and ID checks were minimal as dozens of techs flooded the building.

Other such coincidences abound. President George W. Bush was absent from Washington when the attacks occurred, reading pet goat stories to children in Florida, but his father was there. Former president and former CIA director Bush Sr was in the capitol attending a meeting of the Carlyle Group with Shariq bin Laden, Osama bin Laden’s brother. Carlyle is an investment company in which both families have long had interests. Bush Sr had been CIA director for Gerald Ford in 1976-77, just two years before the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which radicalized Osama bin Laden, whose struggle for Afghan’s independence was supported by millions of US dollars and tactical support funneled through the CIA and Pakistan’s secret service.

Vice President Dick Cheney was in Washington, too, monitoring a series of CIA war games and terror drills over which he was in charge, which simulated the flying of hijacked planes into the World Trade Center, “coincidentally” at the very moment this was actually occurring. The simulation included both “live fly” planes and the interjection of false “radar blips” onto air traffic control screens, thus providing operational cover for the genuinely hijacked planes.

NORAD, responsible for American air defense, was told to stand down that morning, as for the first time ever a sitting US Vice President ran the controls, pursuant to an order given on June 1, 2001 to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, which granted Cheney full authority over the agency. Cheney had been Bush Sr’s Defense Secretary, and had worked with Rumsfeld in both the Nixon and Ford administrations.

Why these “coincidences” were not investigated by the 9/11 Commission or effectively reported by mainstream media outlets is anyone’s guess, but the overall impression given is not one of transparency and innocence. An examination of the chart for the first plane crash on 9/11 supports the view that these connections were much more than coincidence.

Cast for 11 September 2001 at 8:46:40 AM EDT, the moment of impact of the first plane at World Trade Center1 in Manhattan, the astrological chart has 14 Libra rising, a degree appropriately sandwiched between a Black Hole at 13 Libra and a Quasar at 15 Libra. Quasars promote high visibility and pervasive manifestation, evoking something lasting and permanent, while Black Holes suggest the substitution of an alternate reality for the status quo, the changing of conditions in the twinkling of an eye, after which new circumstances pertain, and going back is no longer possible.

Black Holes tend to extremes, promoting a stark, highly polarized division in the perception of an event or individual, and they mask truth as often as they reveal it. They often signify an invisible but powerful force acting behind the scenes, something beyond normal perception but identifiable by those who know how to look for it.

The 14 Libra Ascendant is also an exact match for the USA Saturn, representing the government in general and the chief executive specifically. And it ties strongly to George W. Bush’s (born 6 July 1946) chart, being conjoined his Chiron (wounding, maverick behaviors)/Moon (homeland, country)/Jupiter (politics) conjunction at 15, 16 and 18 Libra, and squared his natal Sun at 13 Cancer. The Ascendant is also tightly squared to Osama bin Laden’s (born 10 March 1957) natal asteroid Osamu at 13 Capricorn.

Also at 14 Libra is Mercury, just across the Ascendant in the Twelfth House of hidden matters, enemies, conspiracies, clandestine operations, deception, fraud, foreign agents, intrigues, curtailment of liberties, plots, religious delusion and fanaticism, secrets and treachery. Mercury itself represents planning, cunning, and air travel, and in the Twelfth House, it suggests hidden or secret facts and motivations. Obviously, at the same degree, Mercury makes the same aspects as the Ascendant to the charts of Bush, bin Laden and the US.

Also tenanted in the Twelfth are asteroids George (for George W. Bush) and Osamu (for Osama bin Laden), the two individuals most closely associated in the public mind with the event. These two are conjoined both the Ascendant, the public face or image for the attacks, and also conjunct each other, suggestive of some level of interconnection or collusion, with George at 13 Libra exactly conjunct the Black Hole and Osamu at 8 Libra exactly squared a Quasar at 8 Cancer.

Again, this makes sense, given the official story—Osamu, as representative of bin Laden, taking the highly visible (Quasar) role of mastermind, and George on the Black Hole indicating a behind-the-scenes, invisible involvement, which here could indicate the father as well as the son. Asteroid George conjoins the USA Saturn and exactly squares its Sun at 13 Cancer, a contentious, adversarial relationship.

Also conjoined the Ascendant is asteroid America, which at 20 Libra in the First House is closely trine to Uranus at 21 Aquarius, the planet ruling airplanes, shocks, upsets and explosives, and more broadly trine the Moon, representing the people, at 28 Gemini. The resulting Grand Trine becomes a kite with America’s tight opposition to TNO Eris at 19 Aries, named for the Greek goddess of discord, strife, and division.

Certainly these qualities arose in the aftermath of the tragedy, as political maneuvering began and the attack was used as justification for vast expenditures, an enormous governmental power grab, and two wars. Conjoined volatile Uranus is asteroid Busch (for both Bushes) at 27 Aquarius, which lies sandwiched between a Black Hole at 28 Aquarius, indicating that things are not as they seem, and the USA Moon at 26 Aquarius, again representative of the American people.

Jupiter, ruling politicians, religious beliefs and political philosophy, is squared the Ascendant from 11 Cancer, and is conjoined by asteroid Dick (for VP Dick Cheney) at 8 Cancer, exactly atop the Quasar which exactly squares asteroid Osamu, linking these two players as strongly as George/Osamu links Bush and bin Laden. Jupiter is within orb of the natal Suns of both George W. Bush and the USA, and forms the Apex of a Yod, or Finger of Destiny, with Pluto at 12 Sagittarius and Damocles (the doom hanging overhead unheeded) at 11 Aquarius.

The Sun has a tale to tell as well. At 18 Virgo, it is exactly conjoined by asteroid Achilles, indicating the weak spot which results in undoing. Asteroid Apophis, named for the ancient Egyptian deity personifying pure evil, is conjoined the Sun from 17 Virgo. Together these square Saturn (the US government and its chief executive), at 14 Gemini, and George W. Bush’s natal Uranus (shocks, revelations, explosives, violence, airplanes) at 19 Gemini.

This pattern becomes a T-Square with the somewhat broad square to transit Pluto (death, destruction, power, manipulation and control) at 12 Sagittarius, pulled more strongly into the mix by Osama bin Laden’s natal Saturn at 14 Sagittarius, Dick Cheney’s (born 30 January 1941) natal Mars at 17 Sagittarius, and the Black Hole at 18 Sagittarius, another indicator of unexpected outcomes and behind-the-scenes, hidden motives or agendas. And this T-Square in turn becomes a Grand Cross with the inclusion of Osama bin Laden’s natal Sun at 19 Pisces, closely opposed the Sun/Achilles/Apophis for the attacks.

The Sun forms a Yod with inconjunct aspects to both Uranus at 21 Aquarius and TNO Eris at 19 Aries, and is also sextile to asteroids Pandora (the unleashing of a host of troubles, the unexpected consequences of an ill-considered act) at 18 Cancer and Manhattan (the venue for two of the attacks, causing most casualties) at 19 Scorpio.

The importance of the day is also prefigured by significant asteroid placements in the charts of bin Laden, Bush and Cheney, and the astrological connections between them. Bin Laden has a combination of asteroids Karma, Busch and Manhattan at 21, 23 and 25 Aquarius, straddling a Quasar at 24 Aquarius, denoting a fated, predestined (Karma) connection with George W. Bush (Busch) and New York City (Manhattan), one which greatly boosts bin Laden’s visibility and prominence on the world stage (Quasar). These conjoin the USA Moon at 26 Aquarius, indicating the effect on the American people, and are squared to bin Laden’s natal Mars at 25 Taurus and trined natal TNO Ixion at 22 Libra, Mars signaling violence and attacks, and Ixion describing murder (named for the first murderer in Greek mythology).

Another indicator of the connection between bin Laden and Bush is the triple conjunction of asteroid George at 28 Virgo with Apophis (Egyptian personification of pure evil) and Jupiter at 27 Virgo, ruling religious beliefs and political philosophy. These square the supermassive Black Hole at the Galactic Center at 26 Sagittarius, indicating a potential for global notoriety and renown via their agency. Additionally, bin Laden’s 19 Pisces Sun is tightly squared asteroid Dick at 20 Sagittarius, suggesting some intimate connection between the US Vice President and the al Qaeda leader.

Asteroid America at 27 Leo conjoins bin Laden’s natal Pluto at 28 Leo, conveying a potential for a devastating impact on the US, while natal asteroid Osamu at 13 Capricorn is exactly trine asteroid Washingtonia at 13 Taurus, implying a smooth, even flow of energies between bin Laden and the US ruling class.

Before 9/11, George W. Bush was clearly captaining a failed presidency. Fully half the nation considered him an illegitimate occupant of the Oval Office, in the aftermath of the Florida electoral farce the previous November, and his approval ratings barely scratched 50%. But 9/11 changed all that. Bush’s approval shot up to 90%, and he was able to parlay his new status as “War President” and the fear-mongering he induced long enough to gain re-election in 2004.

The pivotal importance of 9/11 for Bush personally can be seen in an exact opposition from asteroid George at 0 Leo, conjoined his Ascendant (how others see us) to asteroid Manhattan at 0 Aquarius, conjoined the Descendant (how we interact with others). For Bush, 9/11 was the salvation of his presidency and his political viability. Asteroid George also squares asteroid Dick (for Cheney) at 1 Scorpio, forming a T-Square with Manhattan, and squares asteroid Richard (Cheney’s given first name) at 7 Scorpio, which lies in exact square to Bush’s 7 Leo Ascendant.

Bush’s natal asteroid Busch at 22 Scorpio is squared to bin Laden’s Busch/Karma/Manhattan at 23, 21 and 25 Aquarius, and his natal Osamu at 15 Taurus conjoins bin Laden’s Washingtonia at 13 Taurus, while his own Washingtonia at 10 Cancer opposes bin Laden’s Osamu at 13 Capricorn, providing further links between the two, revolving around the corridors of power in the US. Natally, Bush has asteroid America at 4 Virgo conjoined natal Mars at 9 Virgo, indicating the potential for an attack involving the US, and natal Uranus (shocks, explosions, airplanes) at 19 Gemini squares the 18 Virgo Sun for 9/11, and forms a T-Square with bin Laden’s 19 Pisces Sun.

Dick Cheney’s asteroid America at 21 Aquarius is an exact match for bin Laden’s natal Karma, his Mercury (planning, strategy) at 23 Aquarius falls exactly on bin Laden’s natal Busch, and his Damocles (the doom hanging overhead) at 26 Aquarius conjoins bin Laden’s natal Manhattan at 25 Aquarius, all points conjunct the 9/11 Uranus/Busch at 21 and 27 Aquarius. Cheney’s America/Mercury/Damocles is also squared his natal asteroid Dick at 22 Scorpio (itself exactly conjunct Bush’s natal asteroid Busch) and forms a T-Square with Cheney’s natal Uranus at 22 Taurus. Uranus is also trine to natal asteroid Osamu at 25 Capricorn, conjoined the USA natal Pluto (power and its uses) at 27 Capricorn.

Cheney’s 10 Aquarius Sun is conjunct asteroid Icarus (rash, reckless actions) at 7 Aquarius and forms a Grand Trine with asteroid Manhattan at 5 Gemini and TNO Ixion (murder) at 7 Libra, itself conjoined the Osamu and George of the 9/11 chart, at 8 and 13 Libra. Asteroid George at 16 Taurus conjoins Bush’s asteroid Osamu at 15 Taurus and bin Laden’s asteroid Washingtonia at 13 Taurus, all bound by the reality-twisting Black Hole at 16 Taurus.

Additional contacts to the 9/11 chart include an exact conjunction of Cheney’s natal asteroid Nemesis (karmic retribution and undoing) at 19 Aries with the 9/11 Eris (strife, discord, division); asteroid Manhattan at 5 Gemini opposed the 9/11 Ixion (murder) at 4 Sagittarius; and asteroid Apophis at 9 Scorpio conjunct the 9/11 Karma at 10 Scorpio.

Such a complex interweaving of celestial energies and markers of the 9/11 tragedy seems to indicate a more-than-typical connection between the major players on that day. The full extent of the bond may never be known, but that there is more to be revealed, seems certain.

Alex Miller

Alex Miller is a professional writer and astrologer, whose website AlexAsteroidAstrology.com offers a trove of info on the role of asteroids in personal and mundane astrology. He is the author of The Black Hole Book (available on Amazon.com) and The Urban Wicca, former editor of “The Galactic Calendar,” and past president of The Philadelphia Astrological Society. His pioneering work with Black Holes in astrological interpretation began in 1991, when his progressed Sun unwittingly fell into one. Alex’s books and writings are available on his website. Alex can also be reached for comment or services at .