Astrology News from Equinox

On 6th January 2004, Catherine Bennett of the Guardian (UK national newspaper and astrological sceptic) writes: “On the Astrology News website, there is already speculation that the tsunami “because it involves destruction originating from a submarine source … appears to fall in line with the mythological themes of Sedna”. Suggesting that the California Institute of Technology scientists whose decision it was, last year, to name the planet after the Inuit sea goddess, may be more competent in the divination department than all the UK’s astrologers put together.”

It is clear that Bennett writes about esoteric subjects without reading about them. In this instance, her superficial brush-off suggests she has not studied the writings of Carl Jung.

Jung’s concept of synchronicity is that there is an acausal (non-linear) principle that links events having a similar meaning by their coincidence in time rather than sequentially. He claimed that there is a synchrony between the mind and the sensory world of perception.

Though I am not sure if every coincidence has deep meaning, the naming of a planet is a significant and symbolic event that affects the world. As such, I believe there is a connection between the choice of the name and the nature of the planet. However, I seriously doubt whether the scientist who renamed the planet Sedna after the official 2003 VB12 was using divinatory powers - perhaps just listening to his dreams. See Serendipity for more about synchronicity.

Astrologers, Neil Spencer, Jessica Adams and I wrote to the Grauniad * clarifying some basic facts in response to Bennett’s article. Since these letters draw attention to the newspaper’s amateur approach to the metaphysical subjects, they were not published. How can a newspaper charge people for articles written from a position of ignorance? Imagine a motor correspondent who couldn’t drive!

The Boston Phoenix ran an article on astrologers who predicted the September 11th Terrorist attack which included the work of Rob Hand and Lynne Palmer…

The Boston Phoenix ran an article on astrologers who predicted the September Terrorist attack which included the following…Eminent astrologer, Robert Hand: Hand was one of the astrologers who came up trumps. In an article posted in the August edition of the Mountain Astrologer online magazine, Hand wrote a long, lyrical essay foretelling “restrictions on our freedom of movement,” the “ruthless energy of change,” and “unrest in the Middle East.”
New York, astrologer Matthew Carnicelli anticipated the possibility of foreign terrorist attacks on the U.S. based primarily on Mars in Scorpio in the inauguration chart of George W. Bush. To quote: “Mars configured in Scorpio directly on the Descendant for any noon Inauguration chart signified the prospect of fearsome enemies, particularly in hard aspect to Mercury-Uranus and Trans-Neptunian Admetos. There were many other indications in both Bush’s chart and the swearing-in chart that confirmed this symbolism, particularly the Moon of the Inaugural Chart (which clearly showed the potential for public grieving, as well as religious fanaticism).”
The Boston Phoenix article also features Lynne Palmer: In June 2000, Lynne Palmer, a 69-year-old Las Vegas resident, published her Astrological Almanac for 2001 (Star Bright Publishers). On page 95 of the book, buried among advice on the best days to go to the movies and worst days to lend people money, Palmer had written, in an odd combination of the obvious and the prophetic: “Avoid terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.” Boston Phoenix [18 Dec. 01] Lynne Palmer’s Almanac also includes the following advice with September 11th, 2001 listed in each instance. On page 88,under the category AVOID: DANGER, it says, “…Also be careful of overhanging objects that could fall, as well as bombs and explosives.” On page 86, under AVOID: ACCIDENTS. On page 89, under AVOID: FIRES.