USA 1

Alternate US Chart with Appropriate Symbolism

The exact astrological beginning of the life of most specific individuals, and of most specific countries is usually not hard to determine. When the subject is the USA, however, it is quite a different story! July 4, 1776 is the most commonly accepted date, but there is no unanimous consensus on the time that day. Other dates have been offered, including, among others, 7/2/1776 and An Articles of Confederation chart first promoted by the late David Solte, with a time subjectively chosen by him from a two hour known time range.

There is an unfortunately all-too-commonly accepted notion that there can be ONLY ONE chart of this country. The assumption is that a nation is only born one way, at one exact time, like the first breathe of a newborn human. However, a nation isn’t a human. Our nation’s Constitutional nature began with the chart of our constitution. Our popular self-concept of this country coincides with our big holiday, July 4, in celebration of that date in 1776.

And yet, as Solte pointed out, The Declaration of Independence declared the freedom and independence of thirteen colonies, not “united states”, and that the currency issued by Congress prior to the Articles of Confederation did not use the definitive term “United States.” Solte made many other persuasive arguments for the validity of this chart, sadly, far more arguments and prognostications were delivered publicly and privately then were ever written down in his tragically short lifetime. David also made a strong case for using the Astro*Carto*Graphy of this chart as well, a perfectly valid technique for determining the viability of any chart, complimentary to the story told by the timing of transits, progressions and such. Any natal sign and house placement analysis, natal aspects and such should, of course, also make sense. He promoted his preferred chart that way as well, as have proponents of other USA charts.

Despite the brilliant hard work of Solte with his “Scorpionic America” chart and others with theirs, what seems to be often lacking in the promotion of possible US charts, except, for example, Rudhyar’s, is any Sabian Symbol analysis. Of course, some astrologers to this day deny the validity and/or significance of this insightful dimension of astrology. Others seem to find these images most significant in individual charts, but somehow seem to forget to look for significance in the chart of a nation. David and other US chart proponents have been inordinately obsessed with “direct hits” (a most unimaginative term!) of transits, etc. to meridian and horizon angles and such, with the unspoken presumption that all planetary aspects all the time, for all people, and for all nations, correspond precisely to all significant events. Where are the undisputed statistically valid research projects, duly replicated, to prove this “smart bomb-like” celestial bombardment theory universally above reproach? Meanwhile, what else might give us probable clues to a possibly valid USA chart?

Rudhyar thought the “pyramid and sphinx” degree should be the US ascendant.. With the “USA 1” chart, the appropriate MC seems to be 11+ of Sagittarius, i.e. the 12th Sabian Symbol is “A flag turns into an eagle: the eagle into a chanticleer saluting the dawn.” There are two other flag Sabian Symbols: the 26th degree of Sagittarius, “a flag bearer in battle” and the 9th degree of Aquarius “a flag is seen turning into an eagle.” Might one of these fit the US as well or better than the 12th degree of Sagittarius? In my opinion, the answer is “no.”

There is no “crowing” about one’s flag and country in these other degrees. Note that the American National Anthem centers on a stationary flag, and that Americans pledge allegiance first and foremost to a flag, only secondarily “to the nation for which it stands.” The ubiquitous presence of the American eagle and/or the American flag speak for themselves as primary symbols of America. Does it not make perfect sense that these images be present at the apex of this America chart?

Besides all this, any degree image appearing on one axis must be opposed by the opposite degree image at the other end of that axis. Opposite 12th Sagittarius is the 12th degree of Gemini is “A black slave-girl demands her rights of her mistress.” Since the US was significantly built on slavery of Africans and African Americans, and because the US stubbornly preserved slavery long after it was abolished throughout the entire British Empire, it makes sense that slavery should unfortunately prominently appear in a chart for the functioning of US.

However, it does not make sense for this Sabian Symbol to appear in the July 4 chart of the popular self-image of the US. It is significant, but little known now, that a significant minority, possibly even a majority, of rank and file Caucasian Americans, as well as certain revolutionary American idealists, especially in the northern colonies, where the American Revolution began, felt that if America would be free, all people, black and white, should be made free. However, when Thomas Jefferson, himself owner of some 200 slaves, attempted to include language critical of slavery in the Declaration of Independence, it was overwhelmingly struck down. This should come as no surprise, though, since one third or more of Congress owned, or had recently owned, or traded in slaves. Then as now, there are two Americas, with only one being the everyman/everywoman represented by the July 4 chart. The true powers that were and the true powers that be are best represented by another chart. Solte saw the latter as his “Scorpionic America” chart. The “USA 1” chart is very similar, but image appropriate.

Why two charts? “The Spirit of ’76” was just that, --- spirit and attitude, lacking both economic substance and solid hierarchal control. Spirit alone lasts but so long in the face of adversity. Between July 4, 1776 and November 15, 1777 (The Articles of Confederation), the spirit of ’76 was found wanting. On 9/11/1776, the commander of an enormous British army and navy met Franklin, John Adams and another colonial leader to request the retraction of the Declaration as a condition of amnesty for most rebels. On 9/25/1776, Washington requested of Congress a standing regular army because of the overwhelming failure of volunteer militia. On 9/26/1776 Franklin and Jefferson agree to help appeal to France, as it was overwhelmingly clear that “the Spirit of ‘76” alone is not enough to make America independent. Within months, individual Colony-issued currency, as well as Continental money that made no mention of “United States” had dropped to 25% of its face value.

In September 1777, less than two months earlier, the Congress, in John Adams words, were “chased like a covey of partridges” from their Declaration of Independence base in Philadelphia to the little town of York Pennsylvania. (This was because Washington had yet to win anything for the rebel cause.) Rebellious Americans from different colonies seemingly only had one thing in common before 11/15/1777: their adversity toward the British monarch and his loyal subjects.

So in York, in the fall of 1777, something significant needed to be done. The leaders of the independent colonies needed to declare themselves a united nation with a national currency, if for no other reason than for the critically important French government to become their ally. (Why give money and other support to thirteen separate colonies often not cooperating well with one another?) Meanwhile, their wealth, power, and even their very lives were seriously threatened, these wealthy Caucasian male property (and slave) holders needed to solidify their power over “the rabble” of ordinary people, the necessary pawns on the front line of their all-too-real-life chess board.

Not only were they threatened by the British, and by a significant number of loyalist Americans, they also felt threatened by the 20% of the American population that were slaves, significant numbers were, or could, defect to the British, or simply escape, or engage in work slow downs, or demands for freedom in exchange for helping to fight in the war. Indigenous tribes posed yet another threat, collaboration with the British, or direct threat during times of limited manpower, munitions, etc.

Meanwhile, deserting and potentially mutinous poor whites had to be dealt with. Austere military discipline measures were approved, from 100 lashes per discipline infraction, to death penalties (yes, I said death penalties) for repeat or serious offenders. Many whites refusing to comply with quotas required of each colony. Often slaves were gifted as perks for colonial officers, even soldiers, or served as proxies to help colonies meet quotas.
As if that wasn’t enough, there were serious small pox epidemics, killing probably hundreds of Caucasians, definitely many thousands of slaves. Ironically, it was a slave who suggested inoculation for the pox, received, for instance, by John Adams family. Despite the death of thousands of slaves, the number of slaves in the US before the American Revolution increased from one half million to 700,000. (There was no similar increase in the Caucasian population during the same time.)

Later in American history, slaves were legally considered only 3/5 human, later still, our only civil war was an ultimately unavoidable profound dispute about the economy of slavery. The 14th amendment, meant to give full legal rights of personage to former slaves was years later usurped in the name of non-human “persons,” i.e., corporations. The “civil rights” era was first and foremost a struggle for equal rights for African-Americans. Even as recently as this year of 2005, overwhelming African-American disapproval of the present president and his administration in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, particularly regarding New Orleans, remind us still of unresolved issues between the descendants of poor former slaves from Africa and the rich and powerful Caucasians in and behind U.S. government.

When these historical facts are taken into account, 12th Gemini’s presence in the chart makes sense. The logical place for 12th Sagittarius is at the midheaven, at the “high point,” the eagle, wings spread, perches atop a globe shape (the world globe?), above the U.S. flag. In this country, government leaders of either party in power “crow” about how great they are, how great this country is, etc. Meanwhile, at the I.C., the lowest point of the chart, the “slave-girl” confronts her “mistress” (America?) Note that the eagle that “chanticleer” becomes, is a rooster, who “salutes the dawn” by crowing. Note that the racist laws to keep African-Americans down post-slavery and before Civil Rights were called “Jim Crow” laws….

At this point, a skeptic or cynic might wonder if this has anything to do with the probable timing of the Articles of Confederation. Solte’s research suggests a possible time frame of noon to 2:00 pm. Interestingly enough, the 12th degree of Sagittarius is at the M.C. at 1:00 pm, exactly mid-range. (For this point of timing, and because of America’s dominance orientation (“We’re number 1!!!”), especially now as the world’s only “super power,” the name and number “USA 1” seems most appropriate for this chart.) By the way, this chart is only 14 minutes of time different from the time chosen by Solte. The variation of the Astro*Carto*Graphy, house placements, etc. is consequentially negligible, in my opinion, from that of a the late Jim Lewis, Certified Astro*Carto*Graphy Interpreter. [I realize some colleagues might suggest that this difference is not negligible, but I would venture to guess that these same astrologers would similarly obsess about “smart bomb-like” precise transit timing….]

What of the other all-important axis in this chart, the horizon? At 1:00 pm, the ascendant is (27+) = the 28th degree of Aquarius: “ A tree felled and sawed to ensure a supply of wood for the winter.” The, descendant, the opposite degree is the 28th degree of Leo: “Many little birds chirping on the limb of a large tree.” In Greenback (The Almighty Dollar and the Invention of America); (Picador; New York; 2003), author Jason Goodwin talks about the fear of trees among colonial Americans. That is, fear of the “wilderness” of the Native Americans. Further, during the pre-Revolutionary War and post-Revolutionary War times, timber was a most valuable export commodity. Of course, the removal of trees was also seen as the elimination of obstacles to the business of agriculture.
Regarding the descendant, Lynda Hill, in The Sabian Symbols As An Oracle (expanded special edition);( self-published, Avalon, Australia; 2002), mentions under keywords “Gathering with people of like mind….” and in “The Caution: Many voices—some heard, some not….” It could also be a reminder that “Birds of a feather flock together.” On the ascendant, a tree is down. On the descendant, a single surviving tree and its natural occupants, crowded together. Could the birds represent the “huddled masses” longing to be free in America, mentioned on the plaque on the Statue of Liberty?

Combining the two degrees of the ascendant and descendant, one could also speak of “cutting” one’s adversary(ies) “down to size.” This ascending degree of 28th Aquarius implies a basic disregard of the natural environment, especially the forests, because of a focus on material needs, real or imagined.

As in Solte’s “Scorpionic America” chart, Chiron is in the second house in Aries on the “pugilist” degree. This explains the feisty challenger spirit, the determination to go from economic underdog position to economic world champion. The same placement indicates the entrepreneurial advantage of OWNING (a) person or people, another indication of a national economy based on exploiting humans unlike themselves first by slavery and later by economic inequality approximating slavery, particularly involving African-Americans.
Racism and trees come together in the historical former slave state practice of lynching not at a gallows, but on a tree. (Billie Holiday’s song, “Strange Fruit,” comes to mind.)
If some version of the July 4, 1776 chart might be seen as how most Americans see themselves and their country, the “Scorpionic America” chart and/or the “USA 1” chart tell us more about the agenda, rationale, etc. of the affluent “powers that be” that assume they know what’s best for themselves and simultaneously, to their minds, for the ultimate good of the nation. They do not want direct democracy, but an electoral college, an only two party system, and such, since true direct democracy might give power to those deemed “the rabble,” “the savage,” etc., but especially to poor and working class African-Americans. Further, this is the chart of those who did not/do not want, a truly free press (for that could become “rabble-rousing’), nor do they want universal human rights, nor environmental protection, etc. In other words, this is the chart of real American power, both directly political, as well as indirect, behind the scenes power. Let ordinary Americans declare themselves “independent” every July 4, just as long as that celebration/illusion does not interfere with the perpetuity of the real American power system.

The Most Important Era in American History officially began with the Chiron – Pluto conjunction on the 12th degree of Sagittariusittarius on the eve of the Twenty-first Century. Of course, as with any cycle, much had been underway prior to that time and more was yet to be initiated, so exact “smart bomb-like” timing “hits” not to be expected. New Chiron-Pluto cycles correspond to new crises of Collective Soul, as if life has become far more hellish, with monstrous forces threatening many, but especially the human “underdogs,” including, in this case, economically poor African-Americans.
(Earlier Chiron-Pluto cycles corresponded to issues such as colonial exploitation, the decimation of the Native American and the buffalo, the suffering of WWII (especially the holocaust)

Those who find great significance in using one of the July 4 charts (or a July 2 chart) might find it interesting to look at connections between that chart and the “USA 1” chart….God(ess) Bless America, all of America, and the whole world --- no exceptions!
(This is written in memory of the recently deceased activist, African-American Rosa Parks, the historic example of the 12th Gemini I.C. She “would not stand for” injustice and opposed the powers that were, and continue to be, the powers that be.)