My heart goes out to Norway

What a terrible experience it must have been yesterday in Utoeya Island and in Oslo with the bombing. At present it seems to be the work of one person, which may or may not be more comforting than a bigger organisation claiming the deed. Being able to keep tabs on a single person has always proved to be impossible in these devastating cases. The sad fact is many people have died, (91 at the time of writing) all of them far too young.

Although with events like this, I, like many astrologers, look at the charts to try to make sense of them, astrology doesn't really provide much solace. It shows the themes of the moments and bringing these themes to light might go some way to an explanation of the drives of the murderer.

The island case appears to be another example of an aspect in the heavens coming into sharp focus. The same aspect that is not yet exact, and won't be until next year. I'm afraid we might still be in the warm up stage, but perhaps there is hope that this type of event might make us more alert as to how this energy needs to be transformed.

I haven't seen an exact time for the shootings. It seems to be about 2 hours after the bombing which was took place at 15:26 Oslo time.

The bombing chart shows the planet Neptune right at the bottom of the chart. Underfoot so to speak. Neptune creates chaos and loss, in this case at the fundament of the Norwegian capital. Great grief. But Neptune can also act as a smoke screen of deception which seems to have been the case for the murderer. It could suggest that the motivation was one of being 'addicted ' to very strong ideals, (in this case extreme nationalism). It suggests someone who will make sacrifices. Neptune is next to Chiron which is about a deep, some would say karmic, wounding. There may be an old wound being opened here so that it can be healed.

But certainly a great wound has been caused.

I can't find an exact time for the shootings but assuming that is was about 2 hours later than the bombing, one of the planets in the aspect mentioned above, Uranus, has reached the same spot. The planet of shocks is now underfoot and is in an aspect with the planet of death, Pluto. Uranus together with Pluto can create terrible and shocking violence, as in this case. Uranus underfoot is like an earthquake. Norway must be shaken to the core. The sign that resonates with Pluto, Scorpio, was on the horizon for both of these charts. The image is one of transformation and already the media are pronouncing deep changes -  Norway will never be the same. It is being called Norway's 9/11 and I think looking at the chart that is a good description.

Uranus is working together with Ceres, who I think will continue to use Uranus as a wake up call (as she gets closer to him) for what we are doing to the environment. Uranus is the planet of adolescence and Ceres represents an older wise woman so what wonders what these teenagers were discussing. It was a Summer camp run by the ruling Labour Party. Maybe this will give their topics a stage. A wake up call to create a better environment for the future.

It is also interesting in connection with Ceres, who I think has a theme of women's emancipation, that the Commissioner of the Norwegian police is a woman, Ingelin Christine Killengreen, and she is also a Scorpio. Norway has a very good record for equality of the sexes. Perhaps this a relevant theme that will be highlighted too. Looking at the charts, I suspect Ingelin Killegreen might have an important role to play as this terrible case unfolds.

The Prime Minister described the sudden (Uranus) transformation (Pluto) in this case as one of "from a pardise to a hell".  His shock is great. He was scheduled to speak at the gathering.

The suspect, Anders Behring Breivik, has been arrested and he is very Uranian. He is very intelligent, an IT consultant, very active on social media and very right wing. He is against immigration especially of Muslims. This is an indication of someone who knows he is right and nothing will change his views. Uranus this way can produce a very cold and cruel individual. He is (if web info is correct) an Aquarian, confirming these qualities, albeit in a negative way.

Pluto and Uranus can indeed transform. I hope we can use this growing energy to transform on the same scale but in a powerful, innovative and positive way.

Do Not Enter the Netherlands

This week this advertisement appeared in the NY Times. It is a response to proposed government cuts on subsidies for Culture in the Netherlands. It had the desired effect... much outrage. On top of this at the moment and all at the same time, three major museums are fully or partly closed  in Amsterdam.

As an astrologer I can't keep my hands off a chart when something like this happens. "What is going on in the Netherlands chart",  I asked myself -  always nice to have someone who might provide some sort of answer.

I thought Venus - the boss of culture and art and all things beautiful  - might be the culprit and indeed she is being put on the rack by Saturn - that hard task master who wants us to be responsible and take the economic mess (also Venus) seriously.
 And he's not finished with her yet.

In The Dutch chart, Saturn's first assignation with her was on November the 26th last year. Saturn is in Libra at the moment so he has his sights on cleaning up general Libra topics globally, which include art and culture and also relationships and negotiations. Not to mention money. He likes some structure and he likes contracts or agreements in relationships. And responsible spending. It's all about taking repsonsibility for these things.

For the Netherlands though, he is also in direct opposition to Venus, the planet, which apart from art and culture, also rules norms and values and what we enjoy. So this period is of course about more than just Culture with a big C.

Venus in the Dutch chart is in Aries, so there is a love of pioneering, challenging, competing, haggling, and going for it when it comes to money. For a small country there has been a good deal of daring exploration in the past, those brave adventurers coming back as conquering heroes. There is also a love of doing things on the spur of the moment, a kind of bravery but perhaps not always with consideration of the possible consequences. Saturn is questioning that. Saturn restricts to give you time to think.

So let's look at the dates to see if we can get some insight and advice. The first date of November 26th last year, resulted in tickets for concerts for 2011 going on sale early, due to the fact that Government had introduced sales tax on these tickets. The early sales avoided this cost with the resulting loss to Government coffers.

Saturn contacts Venus three times, so this whole period describes a process with high points. The 26th of November was the first and the second was 30th March this year. What was announced then, was that Government would play a smaller role in Culture. (Article in Dutch) For the first time there was a group set up known as the "Table of Six", which represents the whole art world. They reached agreement at this date to present a proposal to Government with a new vision for financing Culture in the Netherlands, which involves a better balance between the market and other financiers. They are against the radical cuts which are proposed.

There is one more meeting to go between Saturn and Venus on 22nd August this year. The struggles continue. Yesterday in the Hague there were more clashes during another demonstration. Artists are accusing the police of being much too heavy handed and agressive - out of proportion with the events.

So what should Holland be doing and learning?

The second date gives some hope for a good outcome after August. What is needed is a structure and some new clear rules. Artists must take responsibility for the money they receive - so they need to make business-like proposals when Saturn is around. Delivery of Culture should fit in with market needs but also art lovers need to be prepared to pay a reasonable fee for what they love. For example a lot of music is downloaded for free which doesn't really show appreciation for artists. Everyone has to live within their means at the moment. There is a restructuring necessary. For a small country there were a lot of subsidies which probably could be better focussed.

On a personal level we need to take the things we love seriously. Whether that is art or people let's take responsibility and pay for these things with our money and/or our time.