Late spring 2014 saw a fresh crop of mass murders, which has unfortunately germinated well in the current Uranus square Pluto soil. Political demise was on the agenda as well, with a healthy sprinkling of misfortune for the fortunate.
The lead story of the period was the mass murder of six fellow UC Santa Barbara students by 22-year old Elliot Rodger, whose eerie YouTube screed and 140-page manifesto intricately detailed his plans for revenge against the women who rejected him, the unworthy males they opted for instead, and the world at large. Rodger had titled his manifesto-cum-memoir “My Twisted World”, and there was certainly truth in advertising—the self-centered, narcissistic, ego-maniacal Rodger stabbed three men in his apartment before running amok on campus, shooting two young women outside a sorority house, a fourth man in a convenience store, and using his car as a weapon to wound several others before killing himself.
The night before his spree, Rodger released a seven-minute YouTube video entitled “Retribution”, wherein he detailed his plans for revenge. Inveighing against the “unfairness” of life, Rodger decries his virgin status and the young women who refused to give him a second glance, reveling in advance in the pain, misery and death he is about to visit upon them. In the excerpt below, I’ve highlighted in red the words and phrases that speak most clearly to the astrological factors at play in Rodger’s psyche:
“Tomorrow is the day of retribution, the day I will have my revenge against humanity, against all of you.… You girls have never been attracted to me. I don’t know why you girls aren’t attracted to me but I will punish you all for it. It’s an injustice, a crime because I don’t know what you don’t see in me, I’m the perfect guy and yet you throw yourselves at all these obnoxious men instead of me, the supreme gentleman. I will punish all of you for it.… I take great pleasure in slaughtering all of you. You will finally see that I am, in truth, the superior one, the true alpha male.… Well, now I will be a god compared to you, you will all be animals, you are animals and I will slaughter you like animals. I’ll be a god exacting my retribution on all those who deserve it and you do deserve it just for the crime of living a better life than me.… You think I’m unworthy of you. That’s a crime I can never get over. If I can’t have you girls, I will destroy you. [laughs] You denied me a happy life and in turn I will deny all of you life, it’s only fair. I hate all of you.… You forced me to suffer all my life, now I will make you all suffer. I waited a long time for this. I’ll give you exactly what you deserve, all of you. All you girls who rejected me, looked down upon me, you know, treated me like scum while you gave yourselves to other men. And all of you men for living a better life than me, all of you sexually active men. I hate you. I hate all of you. I can’t wait to give you exactly what you deserve, annihilation.” [Emphasis added.]
Rodger started his rampage by stabbing to death his two roommates, George Chen and Cheng Yuan Hong and a visiting friend, Weihan Wang, in his apartment. He then got into his car and drove to the Alpha Phi Sorority House, where he was denied admittance. Frustrated, he shot and killed two sorority sisters on the street, Veronika Weisman and Katie Cooper. He then entered a convenience store, where he shot and killed a patron, Christopher Michaels-Martinez, before cruising through campus, shooting at random bystanders and running into pedestrians and bicyclers, wounding 13 others. After crashing his car, Rodger turned the gun on himself and ended his spree.
Begun at 9:27 PM PDT on 23 May 2014, the chart set for Rodger’s massacre shows TNO Ixion at 21 Sagittarius and centaur Pholus at 23 Sagittarius rising on the 22 Sagittarius Ascendant, marking the time as one focused on mayhem and murder.
Ixion is named for the first murderer in Greek myth. Pholus relates to mass deaths, by whatever cause. These points oppose Mercury at 25 Gemini on the 22 Gemini Descendant, identifying Rodger’s victims, all of whom were fellow students, Mercury-ruled, as well as his use of his car (also Mercury) as a weapon of destruction.
The Descendant also conjoins Rodger’s natal (born 24 July 1991) asteroid Lachesis, named for the Greek Fate who determines the span of life, at 20 Gemini, and asteroid Nemesis, named for the goddess of vengeance and retribution, at 26 Gemini. Nemesis conjoins transit Mercury, ruling the students he chose to exact his vengeance upon, and exactly opposes the Galactic Center, at 26 Sagittarius for his birth, a point which when activated can signal global attention, notice or notoriety for the native.
In the excerpt above, Nemesis’ role is clear in the many uses of terms like “retribution”, “revenge” and “injustice.” More than once Rodger refers to himself as godlike, both in his role as avenger and as being superior to those he plans to slaughter. Transit Nemesis at 11 Gemini was conjunct Rodger’s natal Osiris/Phaeton pairing at 9 Gemini and is exactly inconjunct natal Uranus at 11 Capricorn. Osiris is named for the Egyptian god of the dead, and Phaeton can be taken as both a car (it was a term used to identify open autos without weather protection) and, from its mythic origins, as a sensational act of self-destruction which threatens all nearby. Thus Osiris/Phaeton signifies the attempt to use his vehicle as a weapon. The exact contact to Uranus suggests an explosive release, a mental aberration, as well as ruling shootings generally.
The Sun for that date at 2 Gemini exactly opposes transit asteroid Elliot (#3193) at 2 Sagittarius, highlighting that name in the events of the day (natal Elliot at 20 Taurus is opposed by transit Saturn, ancient lord of death, at 19 Scorpio). What’s more, this 2 Sagittarius degree is the natal home of Rodger’s asteroid Narcissus, which is the other prominent theme in Rodger’s YouTube post, with terms describing himself as “perfect”, “superior” and “supreme.”
A sense of being the superior, the center of the world, supreme or loftier than others, as well as an intense self-focus and inability to respond to others’ needs or even acknowledge their existence, pervades the individual with a strong narcissistic element. Rodger’s natal Narcissus is closely trine his Sun conjunct Chiron at 1 and 0 Leo, which depicts a badly damaged or wounded (Chiron) self-image (Sun). The Moon at 7 Aries at the time Rodger began his spree is within hours of filling out this pattern into a Grand Trine, marking the day as one on which emotion would predominate, significant as well in that Rodger began killing in his own home.
Also conjoined that Sun are asteroids Sisyphus at 4 Leo and Atropos at 7 Leo. Atropos is named for the Greek Fate who severs the thread of life at death, potentially making Rodger an agent of death. The transit Moon was exactly trine natal Atropos at the time, and transit Atropos at 1 Virgo was T-Square to the transit Sun/Elliot opposition. Sisyphus can represent patience and the ability to stick to a purpose or agenda despite setbacks—its influence can be seen in the line from Rodger’s YouTube rant, “I waited a long time for this.”
Asteroid Rogers (#7894), for surname Rodger, was also active; in the birth chart at 0 Virgo, it was conjoined by transit Atropos at 1 Virgo and natally conjoins Mars at 5 Virgo, linking Rodger personally with violent behaviors. Transit Rodger at 25 Aries is with a cluster of TNO Eris at 22 Aries, Venus at 24 Aries and asteroid Prey at 20 Aries. Rodgers was disgruntled and disaffected (Eris, named for the goddess of discord) with women (Venus), whom he saw as his quarry (Prey) that day.
Several prior transits may have combined to ramp up Rodger’s anger and murderous intent to fever pitch. Saturn, ancient lord of death, came to its retrograde station at 23 Scorpio the previous February, exactly conjunct natal TNO Ixion, with its connections to homicide. Rodger also sported two significant asteroids in the 13th degree of Cardinal Signs, highlighted by the infamous Grand Cross of the month before. Anubis at 13 Cancer, named for an Egyptian deity associated with funerary rites, squares asteroid Prey at 13 Aries. Rodger’s YouTube commentary regarding other people as “animals” and his desire to “slaughter” them has echoes of the predator/prey dynamic. Pluto was still at the 13th degree of Capricorn and actively engaged with these energies when Rodger committed his crimes.
Rodger’s victims’ names are well represented also. Amazingly, asteroid George (#3854), for roommate George Chen, and asteroid Chengdu (#2743), for roommate Cheng Yuan Hong, fall at the same degree, 11 Leo, which forms an exact Yod, or Finger of Destiny, with sextile to transit Nemesis 11 Gemini, both inconjunct natal Uranus 11 Capricorn. Having PNAs representing both roommates in the same degree on the date of their deaths is just mind-boggling! Their guest, Weihan Wang, who seems not to have been a target, just in the wrong place at the wrong time, has no PNA referent.
But Rodger’s other victims do. Christopher Michaels-Martinez is represented by several, with asteroid Christoffel (#18548) at 8 Leo within orb of George/Chengdu and also exactly conjunct asteroid Barbara (#234), for Santa Barbara, where the killings took place. These broadly oppose transit House at 3 Aquarius, itself exactly conjunct Rodger’s natal Saturn, bringing together elements of death and the home. Asteroid Martinez (#2075) at 6 Aquarius ties to this pattern as well.
Asteroid Veronika (#612), for Veronika Weiss, appears at 8 Cancer, opposing Pluto at 13 Capricorn and more closely squared a combination of transit Mars and asteroid Hybris at 9 and 7 Libra, which together describe an arrogant (Hybris) killer (Mars). Asteroid Weissman (#3197, also for Weiss) at 8 Pisces conjoins Neptune, ruling victims, at 7 Pisces.
Kate Cooper is also represented by several points—asteroid Kathryn (#2612) at 8 Scorpio, squared the grouping of victim name asteroids in Leo and Saturn in Aquarius; asteroid Catalina (#83360, a Spanish variation of the name) at 9 Aquarius, also tied to this pattern; and asteroid Kate at 20 Capricorn, which squares the transit Rodger Aries cluster and is conjunct Rodger’s natal asteroid Requiem, named for the funeral mass for the dead, at 21 Capricorn.
Another bizarre shooting occurred just two weeks later, when on June 8 two Las Vegas police officers were shot to death while eating lunch in a CiCi’s pizza restaurant. The killers, a husband and wife team, covered the slain officers with a “Don’t Tread on Me” Gadsden flag, and left a note reading “The revolution is beginning.” The couple then proceeded to a nearby Walmart where they killed a shopper who tried to intervene, brandishing his own weapon. They then killed themselves after exchanging fire with police called to the scene.
The CiCi’s shooting occurred at 11:22 AM MDT, and shows Atropos prominent at 5 Virgo on the 3 Virgo Ascendant. Ixion and Pholus at 22 and 21 Sagittarius are active as well, now opposed by the transit Sun at 17 Gemini. The Sun was also making its annual conjunction to TNO Chaos that day, which on one level represents disorder and anarchy, just what ensued in those few minutes of wild action.
The slain officers, Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo, appear in the skies as well. Asteroid Beck (#21050) makes the boldest statement; at 14 Cancer it has strayed into the Uranus/Pluto square zone, opposed Pluto at 12 Capricorn and squared Uranus at 15 Aries, with Mars, planet of violent attacks, also within the pattern from 11 Libra.
Asteroid Allen (#19727, for Alyn) at 12 Cancer is also tied strongly to the square, and within orb is asteroid Las Vegas (#82332, the venue for the shooting) at 8 Aries. Officer Igor Soldo is represented by asteroid Soldan (#14190) at 9 Gemini, squared Atropos, and by Igormakarov (#10004) and Igorkachenko (#209390), which at 24 and 25 Taurus conjoin the 29 Taurus Midheaven, denoting public notice or prominence at that moment.
Asteroid Hera, representing partners and married couples, is at 20 Capricorn, at the far end of the square’s influence, and exactly squares asteroid Alain (#1969, another referent for Alyn Beck) at 20 Aries. Killers Jerad and Amanda Miller are shown in PNAs appearing at 20 degrees of the intervening Signs, Jerad represented by asteroid Jaredgoodman (#24549) at 20 Aquarius and Amanda by her eponymous asteroid (#725) at 20 Pisces. The Moon and Jupiter feed into this pattern as well, exactly squared each other from 21 Libra to 21 Cancer, with Jupiter opposing Hera and the Moon opposing Alain. Asteroid Miller (#1826) at 28 Cancer is broadly conjunct Jupiter.
The third victim, 31-year-old Joseph Wilcox, is represented by asteroid Josephina (#303), which at 23 Sagittarius conjoins Ixion and Pholus and opposes Sun/Chaos, and also by asteroid Josefa (#649), which at 5 Cancer is just broad of the Uranus/Pluto square, but also conjoins asteroid Requiem at 7 Cancer.
The day before this tragic incident, comedian and actor Tracy Morgan was involved in a deadly car crash on the New Jersey Turnpike, returning to New York from a stand-up performance in Delaware. The accident, which occurred approximately 1 AM EDT Saturday, June 7 in Cranbury, NJ, totaled Morgan’s limo, leaving him seriously injured, and killing fellow comedian James McNair. The six-car collision was caused by Kevin Roper, who had fallen asleep at the wheel of a Walmart truck after going without sleep for more than 24 hours. Morgan, who is best known for his stint on “Saturday Night Live” and starring role in “30 Rock”, received a broken leg and numerous other injuries; he was moved to rehab on June 20 but still has a long recovery period ahead.
A chart cast for the time and place shows Atropos once again prominent, this time on the 6 Pisces Descendant, denoting the death of James McNair. Asteroid James (#2335) at 23 Pisces closely squares TNO Ixion at 22 Sagittarius, celestially supporting the charge of vehicular homicide brought against the truck driver.
Asteroid McNair at 4 Taurus is trine Pluto, modern ruler of death, at 7 Capricorn, and forms a Grand Trine with Atropos. Asteroid Kevin (#23739), the driver’s first name, fits into this pattern from 0 Virgo, identifying Kevin Roper as an agent of death (Atropos).
But of most note are asteroids representing Tracy Morgan.
- Tracie (#3532) at 27 Libra falls exactly on the Mars retrograde station degree of the previous March, and is squared Jupiter at 21 Cancer.
- Asteroid Morgan (#3180) at 3 Libra combines with the Moon at 1 Libra and Mars at 10 Libra, with an exact square to Mercury (vehicles) at 3 Cancer.
- Mercury was in a very powerful position, just hours from its retrograde station, made that much stronger by squaring natal placements from Morgan’s chart (born 10 November 1968)—natal Mars, Uranus and asteroid Tracie at 0, 1 and 5 Libra. This puts transit Moon/Morgan on this natal grouping, with the Moon exact on Uranus, ruling accidents, for the crash.
Both transit Morgan and transit Tracie were also close to station, and thus imbued with enhanced importance, Morgan having turned direct at 2 Libra on May 19, the same day Mars stationed direct at 9 Libra. Tracie about to turn direct from 27 Libra, Mars’ prior retrograde station, on June 17.
Additionally, that Mars direct station of 9 Libra fell in exact square to Morgan’s natal asteroid Morgan at 9 Capricorn, which had itself been the recipient of an exact Pluto retrograde station in the spring of 2013, with Pluto about to pay a return engagement to this degree in the fall.
Driver Kevin Roper, Morgan’s personal nemesis, appears as asteroid Kevin in Morgan’s birth chart, which at 21 Sagittarius was opposed by the Sun conjunct transit Nemesis at 16 and 17 Gemini, with Nemesis exactly on the IC for the crash. Natal Nemesis at 9 Cancer exactly opposes natal Morgan and was T-Squared by the Mars station at 9 Libra, as well as Mars’ transit degree of 10 Libra.
The exact conjunction of the Sun and Nemesis on June 10 brought the stunning political demise of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, defeated in the Republican Primary election for Virginia’s 7th congressional district by Tea-Party-backed challenger Dave Brat, in a 12-point blowout. Cantor had outspent Brat, who was not considered a serious challenge, by more than 25 to 1; Cantor spent more on DC steak house fundraisers alone than Brat’s entire campaign budget, which was run by a 23-year-old political novice.
The Sun/Nemesis conjunction fell within orb of Cantor’s natal Sun at 15 Gemini (born 6 June 1963), and squared his natal asteroid Eric (#4954) at 20 Virgo. Eric natally conjoins asteroid Virginia (#50), the state he represented, at 23 Virgo, which was being transited by asteroid Eric at 25 Virgo for the loss.
A combination of transit asteroid Cantor with Jupiter and asteroid Lachesis at 20, 21 and 22 Cancer foreshadowed the limitation on the Majority Leader’s (Cantor) political (Jupiter) lifespan (Lachesis). Asteroid Davida (#511), for David Brat, appears at 16 Cancer, in exact square to Cantor’s natal Nemesis at 16 Aries, at that time being transited by Uranus at 15 Aries, providing the shocking upset (polls had shown Cantor ahead by thirty points). Cantor’s natal Jupiter, ruling politicians, at 13 Aries had been front and center in the April Cardinal Grand Cross, putting the GOP’s #2 man in the House directly under the gun of the Uranus/Pluto square.
Another season, another bevy of PNA matches as we perambulate through the cosmos.
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 .
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