Two recent stories came to a head with the Sun’s annual conjunction with TNO Eris in mid-April. Former US Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) announced the suspension of his presidential campaign on April 10, essentially removing the last obstacle from Mitt Romney’s path to the GOP nomination. And second degree murder charges were announced against George Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin’s killer, on April 11.
Eris’ astrological function is as a goad, and her primary tactic in motivating others is to sow dissension, stress and strife, prompting action, but the Sun’s conjunction with this born mischief-maker seems to have wrought a potential for a lessening of these emotions in both circumstances involved.
Further astrological backdrop for these developments is Mars’ approaching direct station, which subsequently occurred on the 13th, with Mars intimately connected both with the competitive aspects of the presidential primary race and the violence which ended Trayvon Martin’s life.
When Rick Santorum bowed out of race, the Sun at 21 Aries was one day shy of exact conjunction with Eris, while also opposed Saturn, symbol of the presidency, at 26 Libra retrograde, and squared to asteroid Washingtonia at 25 Capricorn. Sun/Eris was also conjunct Santorum’s natal (born 10 May 1958) Mercury at 23 Aries, prompting the announcement (Mercury), while squared his natal Washingtonia (his national political ambitions) at 29 Cancer, forming a Grand Cross with all associated elements.
Santorum’s eventual withdrawal was not entirely unexpected, but the timing was sudden, coming just two weeks before the primary contest in Santorum’s home state of Pennsylvania, where until recently the former Senator had held a strong lead. Current polling had shown a significant erosion in support, and political pundits speculated that Santorum’s sudden reversal was made to avoid the embarrassment of a home-state loss, which would have seriously prejudiced his chances for a future run.
But astrologically, we can see the suspension as a manifestation of an exact transit T-Square that day, comprised of Uranus at 5 Aries opposed asteroid America at 5 Libra retrograde, both squared asteroid Askalaphus at 5 Cancer, which keyed exactly on Santorum’s natal Venus (finances, fundraising, women) at 5 Aries. Astrologically, Uranus of course relates to sudden whims or actions, often unexpected or precipitate, and with Askalaphus representing such tale-bearing as deteriorating poll numbers might indicate, the nation (asteroid America) was spared the further barbs and smack-downs (both Eris) of the dueling campaigns.
Transit asteroid Richard (for “Rick” Santorum) at 6 Leo is also significant, in close conjunction with the Senator’s natal Uranus at 7 Leo, reiterating the theme of sudden, unplanned developments.. Richard was also inconjunct Santorum’s natal Mars at 9 Pisces, itself conjoined by transit Chiron at 7 Pisces, together suggesting adjustments (inconjunct) made to prevent further wounding (Chiron) in any future competitions (Mars) that may be undertaken.
Transit Mars coming to station at 3 Virgo was conjunct Santorum’s natal asteroid Sisyphus at 2 Virgo, the repetitive, hopeless task against unconquerable odds, which in addition to lying broadly opposed to Santorum’s natal Mars (suggesting an end to the protracted, pointless fight), was also closely opposed transit Neptune at 2 Pisces, itself conjoined transit asteroid Willaert (for Willard “Mitt” Romney) at 2 Pisces, tying the now undisputed frontrunner personally to the event.
The sky the following day was even more reflective of terrestrial realities, when on April 11, Florida Special Prosecutor Angela Corey charged George Zimmerman with second degree murder in the February 26 killing of unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin.
The Sun/Eris conjunction was now perfected, and at 22 Aries also incorporated asteroid Tantalus at the same degree, a point noted for heinous crimes against children or youths.
Eris’ function as goad had been well in evidence on the national stage for the previous month as the Trayvon Martin story gained traction, resulting in numerous marches and protests and a firestorm of media. The Martin family declared themselves satisfied that charges had at last been brought against Zimmerman, whatever the eventual legal outcome of the case. Sun/Eris/Tantalus was also closely opposed TNO Rhadamanthus at 20 Libra retrograde, a point named for an ancient Greek judge of the dead, signifying scrupulous integrity and honest justice.
A remarkable major configuration appears in the sky for that day, an exact Yod, or Finger of Destiny, with inconjunct aspects from both Damocles (the doom hanging unseen overhead) at 22 Aquarius and Nemesis (divine retribution) at 22 Sagittarius to its Apex on TNO Varuna at 22 Cancer.
Astrologer Linda Berry relates Varuna to making an impact lasting well beyond the life, a personal legacy, and immortality, and without doubt the tragic end of Trayvon Martin will resonate for years and provide a rallying cry for anti-gun violence and racial profiling. To personalize this further to the specifics of the Martin case, asteroid Nemesis is conjoined by TNO Ixion at 19 Sagittarius, named for the first murdered in Greek myth, and asteroid Damocles is conjunct asteroid Zimmerman at 17 Aquarius, while Varuna conjoins asteroid Martina (for Trayvon Martin) at 24 Cancer.
The upcoming Mars station at 3 Virgo two days later would fall exactly on Zimmerman’s (born 5 October 1983) natal Mars, prompting his arrest and indictment. Transit Zimmerman at 17 Aquarius is also conjoined the 16 Aquarius Sun of the shooting, and forms a second exact Yod with Zimmerman’s natal asteroid Zimmerman at 17 Virgo (itself on the Mars/Ascendant of the shooting) and Trayvon Martin’s natal Atropos (the Fate who severs the thread of life at death) at 17 Cancer.
Even Special Prosecutor Angela Corey is represented, in the form of transit asteroid Angelica at 8 Gemini, conjunct transit Venus (women, as well as related to justice as natural ruler of Libra) at 7 Gemini and transit asteroid Karma (the results of our actions) at 10 Gemini (itself exactly conjunct Zimmerman’s natal asteroid Martina). All these points are opposed transit asteroid George at 6 Sagittarius (itself exactly conjunct Zimmerman’s natal Uranus (shooting), and Martin’s natal Jupiter (trials, justice) at 11 Sagittarius.
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