Born out of tragedy and into struggle, Israel has been battling with its Arab neighbors for recognition and respect for over half a century. Its national birth chart tells a story of a constant and determined fight for survival, often with a militaristic theme. In recent years, the shifting planetary energies have stirred these natal characteristics into a turbulent whirlwind of which we have yet to see the final chapter.
In a recent article, Growing Tension with Iran, I outlined the likelihood of increasing hostilities between Iran and the West that may openly erupt during 2007 with potentially devastating consequences for Iran. For further indications of what is in store for 2007, a study of Israel’s chart seems to add some pieces to an already daunting portrayal.
The chart for Israel is drawn for May 14, 1948, with 00Scorpio17 rising and Pluto, its ruler, in the 10th house conjunct Saturn. This suggests the sense of an ongoing struggle for survival (Pluto), coupled with the fierce, unrelenting determination to do so, that has accompanied the state of Israel since its birth in 1948. The Sun/Mars square further suggests that this focused intention is often combined with a military effort. In addition, Mars is trine Jupiter and sextile Uranus, with those two planets in opposition, indicating success in military activity (Mars/Jupiter), as well as a willingness to do whatever it takes, despite world opinion to the contrary (Jupiter/Uranus).
More than anything, the movement of progressed Mars, the Warrior planet, has been indicative of the tumultuous and aggressive period in Israel’s recent history. In late 2000, an intifada or holy war was declared against Israel, ostensibly due to its occupation of the Palestinian territories. Subsequently, a series of terrorist suicide bombings was launched that bathed the land in blood and sorrow. Israel responded aggressively by bombing likely terrorist hideouts and expanding settlements. A cycle of violence and destruction gripped the region, especially in 2001 and 2002. In Israel’s chart, the tumultuous period from late 2000 through 2002 was marked by progressed Mars (24 Virgo) square to natal Uranus (24 Gemini) and conjunct progressed Midheaven (24 Virgo).
Suicide bombings continued, though with less frequency as the Mars energy dissipated, and by late 2005, Israel had pulled all of its settlements out of Gaza and was limiting those in the West Bank, as well as continuing to build a wall to seal itself from the Palestinians. A shaky movement towards peace was hobbling slowly along. In recent days, however, the Palestinians, in a much-heralded election, voted for the terrorist organization, Hamas, to become the ruling party in the Palestinian territories. Hamas’ stated goal is the destruction of Israel. In addition, the new ruler of Iran, who many fear is currently trying to build nuclear weapons, talks of wanting to drive Israel into the sea.
At the moment, Israel is clearly troubled by the building anti-Semitism in the Arab world and the growing strength of Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the local political scene. In addition, long-time ruler Ariel Sharon recently suffered a stroke in early January. It is likely that this time of loss and grief will intensify over the next few months when transiting Saturn stations on Israel’s Moon (4Leo43) from February 23 through April 25, 2006, perhaps signifying Sharon’s death and a deep pessimism over the current situation.
With the recent shifts in the wind auguring a possible increase in tension or worse, however, we find that Israel’s progressed Mars is about to move into a square with both Israel’s natal Jupiter (27Sagittarius39) and progressed Uranus (27Gemini50) by late March 2006, where it will grow in strength until the exact aspect in mid-March 2008. This will begin to strengthen the more assertive, unilateral, expansionistic tendencies in the Jupiter/Uranus opposition, while coloring it with the militancy of Mars. Into this generally more aggressive and bold stance, we find three periods with significant triggers to the Mars/Uranus/Jupiter energy that suggest potential periods of increased militancy, violence, and upset.
The first of these comes when the Israeli progressed Moon moves to conjunct progressed Mars and then square both Jupiter and progressed Uranus from mid-June to early August 2006. It is possible this will be more a time of anger and distress in Israel than a time of particularly assertive action. This is suggested by some concurrent Saturn activity, square the Israeli Node in late July and conjunct natal Saturn in mid-August. It is likely there will be some stressful events that anger and upset the people around this time, possibly stimulating a brief, bold reaction.
The next period is far more serious, and it coincides with the many destabilizing and aggressive aspects in the Iranian charts and George Bush’s natal and Inaugural charts in 2007 as delineated in my recent article. From late November 2006 through November 2007, transiting Pluto will be conjunct Israel’s Jupiter (27Sagittarius38), opposite progressed Uranus, and square to progressed Mars. Thus we have the very volatile, angry, unilateral, and expansionist combination of Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto coming in repeated waves during 2007, most especially strong when the Pluto transit is exact. It is certainly possible that this seemingly intensified toughness in Israel’s chart will be related to events signified by the increased belligerence found in Iran’s and Ahmadinejad’s charts, as well as to the agitation and increased aggression registered in the George Bush and Bush Inaugural charts.
The third period of significant and potentially military activation of Israel’s Jupiter/Mars/Uranus combination will come in January and February 2008, when transiting Mars will station conjunct Israel’s natal Uranus and twice cross its progressed Uranus, square its progressed Mars, and oppose its natal Jupiter.
It is probable that events leading up to the dangerous whirlwind in 2007 will be very stressful for Israel. From mid-October 2006 through mid-January 2007, Saturn will station very near the square to Israel’s Sun. This suggests a time of trauma and sorrow or at least tremendous frustration and restriction. The final month of this Saturn influence (mid-December 2006 to mid-January 2007) will overlap with the beginning of the Pluto transit, likely a time of painful transition and a build-up to more forceful action. Saturn remains in effect until the last pass in July 2007, suggesting the entire period is fraught with difficulty, although it is the mid-October 2006 to mid-January 2007 period that will be by far the most stressful for Israel.
Although one never knows how the various planetary energies will actually unfold, it is fair to say that a red light should be flashing when three countries all have such strong Mars activity during the same year, either connected with Uranus or Pluto or both, indicating a very forceful and dangerous dynamic. The current state of irresponsible and bullying rhetoric from both George Bush and Ahmadinejad only serves to fuel the flames that will lead inexorably to trouble. Wiser, cooler heads might be able to manifest these aggressive and volatile energies with a less destructive impact. Unfortunately, there aren’t any right now in the halls of power.
