...the “gestation” period for the Brazil Zika outbreak was marked by two potent eclipses: the first, a total annular eclipse on 3 November 2013, 25% visible in northeastern Brazil; the second, on 29 April, 2014, a rare annular, non-central solar eclipse with a path that spanned Antarctica and parts of Australia, its upper edge clipping Indonesia, a known affected area as well. This transpired just months before the first cases were identified in Brazil in late 2014.
Recounting a long list of challenges to Brazil’s embattled president, Dilma Rousseff, BBCNews.com ended a recent report by saying: “It would seem she wants to ride the storm rather than be drowned in it.” The “storm” includes the April 18th lower house of Congress vote to impeach her over corruption charges, an economy in serious recession and an explosive level of division among Brazilian citizens over all of the above. Perhaps the most troubling challenge of all, however—and the one I’d like to explore today—is the disastrous spread of the Zika virus among pregnant Brazilian women, resulting at last count in approximately 4,000 cases (reported numbers vary—it’s difficult to say precisely) of microcephaly and related neurological birth defects.
Rousseff’s prescient remark may be an astrological clue—for example, could
Neptune, ruling the metaphorical
storm waves, be involved in this perfect storm of challenges to Brazil? Neptune
has a well-documented association in astrology with epidemics and contagion, so
its fingerprints are all over the spread of Zika, but Neptune never unleashes
its worst in a vacuum, so we must wonder what other factors have contributed.
Among those factors are two potent eclipses that preceded the outbreak and Mars' recent turn retrograde—we’ll
consider those in greater detail. First, however, here’s a timeline of key
steps towards the present Zika crisis. The following background facts are
reported in a February 9, 2016 Bulletin of the World Health Organization:[1]
- The virus was first identified in the Zika forests of Uganda
in 1947 in an afflicted rhesus monkey;
- 1948 the virus was isolated to its mosquito carrier
- It would then take until 1964 for tests to confirm a human
case of the infection.
- Cases remained isolated and few until 2007, when the virus
migrated from Africa to Asia and then to the Pacific Island of Yap, where the
first cluster of 185 human cases surfaced. “No deaths, hospitalizations or
neurological complications are reported.”
Unfortunately, the situation deteriorated rapidly: by 2013-14, cases in other Pacific Islands—where
the virus had spread by this time—do turn out to be connected to “congenital
malformations and severe neurological and autoimmune complications.” This same
year tests demonstrate that the virus can be spread via blood (i.e., transfusions) and placental fluids (in the womb). It was a short trip for
the Zika mosquito from the Pacific Islands to Brazil, where the following
milestones will help us make sense of the astrological picture. Again, from the
WHO report:
December 2014: Zika cases are first
identified in Pernambuco, Brazil.
2 March 2015: Brazil’s national lab
notified WHO of cases of a rash-producing illness that turns out to be Zika.
Seven thousand mild cases are documented between February and April that
year—no reported deaths.
7 May 2015: the national lab confirms
that Zika is circulating in Brazil—“the first report of locally acquired Zika
disease in the Americas.”
July-1 December 2015: reported cases of
neurological disorders, including microcephaly are tracked and eventually
linked to prior Zika infections; on December
1st, the “Pan American Health Organization and WHO issue an
alert to the association of Zika virus infection with neurological syndrome and
congenital malformations in the Americas.”
1 February 2016: In response to a growing
body of evidence that Zika infections are associated with “clusters of
microcephaly and other neurological disorders,” the WHO declares a Public
Health Emergency of International Concern.
2 February 2016: The United States reports a
case of sexual transmission of Zika infection in Texas. The infected man had
traveled outside the U.S. and apparently transmitted the disease to his sexual
partner after return to the U.S. The WHO considered this case a “rare event” at
this time; it is no longer considered
rare.
March-April 2016: The CDC now reports that
male sexual partners can transmit the
virus and has issued comprehensive, updated guidelines for pregnant women and travelers
related to this issue.
The concerns are real—the
Brazil Zika outbreak’s “pre-natal” eclipses
Unfortunately,
the “international concern” part of this declaration is real: as of April 18th,
the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reported that 41 countries
spanning Central and South America and the Oceania/Pacific Islands are now
reporting active cases of the virus. For the purposes of this exploration,
however, let’s return to Brazil. While it’s not possible to examine affected
women’s charts (or their babies’ charts) here, we can focus on the broad impact
this public health emergency is likely to have on Brazil itself.
As
mentioned earlier, the “gestation” period for the Brazil Zika outbreak was
marked by two potent eclipses: the first, a total
annular eclipse on 3 November 2013, 25% visible in northeastern Brazil; the
second, on 29 April, 2014, a rare
annular, non-central solar eclipse with a path that spanned Antarctica and
parts of Australia, its upper edge clipping Indonesia, a known affected area as
well. This transpired just months before the first cases were identified in
Brazil in late 2014.
This
notion of a gestation period may be key: the Zika virus doesn’t cause
neurological damage in the person bitten by the mosquito—that horror is
reserved for the unborn babies of women who were pregnant when infected by the
Zika carrying mosquito.
To my knowledge, we don’t yet know how long such women (or their sexual partners, for that matter) remain able to transmit the virus to a fetus.
To my knowledge, we don’t yet know how long such women (or their sexual partners, for that matter) remain able to transmit the virus to a fetus.
These
women and their families are of course deeply impacted by the life-changing damage
done to these babies. Astrologically, this tells us that the lunar cycle and Pluto (ruling fertility and gestation,
respectively) are significant factors to watch for. Between the transmission of
the virus and the most pernicious consequences of Zika infections, virtually
the entire solar system is involved, as we’ll see in the charts below.
Let’s
examine a biwheel for the first eclipse against a chart for Brazil’s first
identified cases (in Pernambuco) in December 2014. No specific date for identification
is mentioned, so I’ve cast the chart for mid-month. The November 2013 eclipse
seems to correlate with the general timeframe scientists estimate for the virus’s
arrival in Brazil, as cited here
in a March 24, 2016 NYTimes.com article:
“A
study published in Science,
which developed a "molecular clock" based on the count of virus mutations in a relatively small
sample, suggested Zika virus arrived in the Americas (most likely in Brazil)
from French Polynesia between May and December
2013…”
Biwheel 1: (inner wheel)
Solar eclipse, November 3, 2013, 9:50 a.m. ST, Pernambuco, Brazil; (outer
wheel) Zika Cases Identified, December 15, 2014, 12:00 p.m. ST, (time unknown),
Pernambuco, Brazil. Note: because the timing for
Identification is imprecise, we won’t be dwelling on Moon- or house/angle-related
aspects for the Identification chart.
The Eclipse
point at 11°16’ Scorpio is part of 6-part stellium, including Sun-Moon, Saturn,
MC, Mercury and Node; the stellium sextiles Eclipse Mars (Virgo) and trines Eclipse
Chiron (Pisces); Eclipse Mars opposes Eclipse Chiron. According to eclipse expert
Celeste Teal, a Scorpio eclipse is “passionate, magnetic and concerned with
reproduction.”[2] This may
explain the central role of reproduction in this crisis. Scorpio also rules
“venereal epidemics,” which speaks to the sexual transmission issue raised in
the timeline above. This amazing “wedge” sextile/trine/opposition configuration
enables the wounding (Saturn-Chiron) energies of this powerful Scorpio stellium
to travel (Mercury) and to manifest (10th house) vigorously (Mars)
in the world.
The
Mars-Chiron opposition (8th-2nd houses), especially in
these signs, points to deadly health (Virgo) threats of epidemic (Pisces)
proportions and the Node’s involvement suggests an evolutionary potential being
carried (Mercury). The family and social ramifications of the most severe Zika
infections can be seen in Saturn’s close proximity to the 10th house
Eclipse point.
A
“dragon’s head” eclipse (North Node near the eclipse point), puts something new
out into the world; unfortunately, “new” isn’t always a positive. Already quite
potent in Brazil because of its visibility, this particular eclipse point is
made even more so by the Node’s proximity. A Scorpio eclipse is co-ruled by
Mars and Pluto—signs naturally associated with power and influence (often
expressed violently and/or covertly), but let’s consider their associations in
medical astrology. Most relevant here, Mars is said to rule the immune system,
white blood cells and the inflammatory response; Pluto rules tissue formation
(therefore gestation), waste elimination, birth and death. What role, if any,
Mars’ inflammatory response plays in damaging fetal brains would be good to
know. Pluto is clearly playing a role in the Zika crisis.
Identification
(ID) Neptune conjoins Eclipse Neptune; ID Neptune trines Eclipse Scorpio points
and opposes Eclipse Mars (Virgo). Neptune trines tend to unleash whatever energies are
in play; here, we see Neptune adding circulation and reach to Scorpio’s
epidemic potentials. This also speaks to how the disease confused the medical
establishment and spread undetected in its early days. Outbreaks happening
before this eclipse were notable for their seemingly mild symptoms and outcomes
(i.e., Zika infections were considered a lot less severe than dengue fever in
many places). This subterfuge is typical of both Scorpio and Neptune and
allowed the epidemic to pick up strength and momentum as it built its virulent
capacity (Mars opposition).
Medically,
Neptune transits tend to breach the body’s defenses, weakening immunity; we’ll
just have to wonder if Neptune also breaches and undermines fetal brain development.
Needless to say, Neptune’s proximity to Chiron in both charts only deepens the
problem.
ID Mars
(Aquarius) squares Eclipse Scorpio points; Uranus in Aries (both charts)
disposes Mars, squaring 12th house Pluto (Capricorn) in both charts. Mars’ malefic influence in
the Zika crisis is certainly highlighted here, especially with Zika’s shocking
(Uranus) life-changing effects on babies. Mars and Pluto also play a role in
the crisis through men, who we now know can transmit the infection sexually to
their partners, “when the man has symptoms, before symptoms start and
after symptoms end.”
Power dynamics between sexual partners (another Mars-Pluto issue) will affect
the outcomes of this crisis.
The
Uranus-Pluto square also reflects the radical social changes an epidemic can
impose, and Brazil seems to be caught up in that process already, for more than
one reason. Miscarriages and still births are other ways Pluto’s 12th
house influence here manifests. Eclipse Uranus’s 3rd house placement
suggests that this emergency will trigger serious grass-roots change, especially
in communities with high concentrations of microcephaly and other Zika-related
afflictions. What transpires unseen, in the womb (12th), has very
real consequences for families, neighborhoods and communities (3rd).
ID Venus (Capricorn)
conjoins ID/Eclipse Pluto; Saturn disposes both and from Scorpio, falls in
mutual reception with Pluto (both charts). Venus is associated with
venereal disease and hormonal function, so the Zika virus has taken advantage
of her usual charms (especially when combined with Pluto) to manifest. Venus
may also impact the development of other organs in the infected babies, such as
kidneys.
Saturn’s
role here is troubling—most visibly in the smaller than normal size of infected
infants’ skulls. The bony human skull normally protects the growing brain,
but if the brain is impaired in the womb, the skull doesn’t grow to normal
size, leaving little room for that brain to expand and restricting other
developmental processes. It’s easy to see how Saturn’s mutual reception with
Pluto reflects the relationship between Zika infections (transmitted by a
Plutonian “vampire,” the bloodsucking mosquito) and congenital malformations
(Saturn).
ID Jupiter
(Leo) trines ID Sun-Mercury and Eclipse Venus (all Sagittarius); ID Sun and
Jupiter are in mutual reception; ID Sun-Mercury conjoin Eclipse Venus and
semi-sextile ID Saturn. Jupiter also disposes ID Mercury, and even though this whole
configuration would normally seem innocuous, if not downright optimistic,
there’s a sober underlying message (ID Sun-Mercury overlay Eclipse 12th
house), as well. The Cosmos doesn’t pick sides or serve only human purposes, so
“positive” is a relative term when one sector of Nature (i.e., the Zika virus)
is competing with another (Human wellbeing). Here, Jupiter in Leo illuminates
our awareness (trine Sun-Mercury) of the virus, but Mercury is also associated
with the transmission of information, and viruses are essentially bundles of
genetic information, so Jupiter could have also stimulated transmission. Identifying
the cases in 2014 was a sign of things to come. ID Mercury’s conjunction to
Eclipse Venus reinforces the potential for sexual transmission of the virus,
while the semi-sextile to Eclipse Saturn brings all its troubling implications
into the mix.
Eclipse
Jupiter (Cancer) widely trines Eclipse Saturn (Scorpio) and widely opposes ID
Pluto (Capricorn). This dignified Jupiter may also backfire on the medical
establishment’s efforts to contain the epidemic. Although the aspects are quite
loose, a 6th house Jupiter is bound to impact how the epidemic
manifests (10th house Eclipse Saturn) in terms of public health,
perhaps, as we’ve seen, amplifying the numbers. Disposed by the Eclipse Moon in
Scorpio and opposite Scorpio’s ruler Pluto, Jupiter’s usual benefits may not materialize
during the Eclipse period, but they may reflect how many Zika-affected families
are coping with the new challenges, drawing on their own faith and optimism.
We
can also be assured that—as Pluto transits into opposition orb with Eclipse
Jupiter (it’s at roughly 17°Rx today)—the medical and
finance establishments are positioning themselves to capitalize on the Zika emergency.
A vaccine is currently in the works; whether or not that helps to contain the
epidemic will probably reflect Pluto’s mutual reception with Saturn. A point to
revisit as efforts unfold.
An added note about transits
to the Eclipse chart
Eclipse
experts point to the importance of Mars and Saturn transits to an eclipse chart
in the 2-3 year period after the event; these transits act to reactivate the
potentials of the eclipse. In the case of this November 2013 eclipse, Mars
transited over the Eclipse point at 11°+Scorpio towards the end of
January, 2016—a critical period for assessing the challenge posed by the
epidemic—in Brazil and elsewhere. This period directly preceded the WHO’s
declaration that Zika’s association with microcephaly and other neurological
disorders constitutes a “public health emergency of international concern.” So Mars raised its “red flag” of danger.
Mars’
retrograde station at 8°+Sagittarius on April 17
also kept the drama going, squaring this Eclipse Mars (Virgo) and trining
Eclipse Uranus (Aries). The astrolocality map for the retrograde chart also hit
Brazil’s national chart descendant—a volatile brew. Mars also reactivated the
April 29, 2014 Eclipse point (Taurus) with an exact inconjunct aspect—more on
that eclipse chart ahead.
At
this point we can examine how Brazil’s national chart has been affected by the
course of the Zika emergency. The biwheel below explores that issue by
overlaying the second, even more volatile eclipse chart referenced earlier,
with the 1822 national chart. I am indebted to astrologer Jorge Mele for
confirming the preferred national chart for this purpose.
Biwheel 2: (inner wheel) Natal,
Brazil Independence, September 7, 1822,
04:08 p.m. LMT, Sao Paulo, Brazil; (outer wheel) Solar Eclipse (annular
non-central), April 29, 2014, 3:14:14 a.m. ST, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
First,
a quick note about this rare eclipse: its duration was over 6 minutes, pointing to an unusually long period of influence. While precise timeframes
are unpredictable, it’s probably safe to assume we’re looking at 4-6 years
(from 2014-2020). Being a rare type of eclipse to begin with adds to its
potency, as well. Finally, as a “Dragon’s Tail” eclipse (South node nearest the
Eclipse point), the overall message of the eclipse is that it’s time to address
and heal existing situations—as Teal puts it, it’s “time to balance the
ledger.”[3]
The analysis below suggests several critical areas that may need to be
rebalanced.
Eclipse Point
(8°+Taurus) and Eclipse Mercury (Taurus) conjoin Brazil Saturn
(Rx, Taurus), opposes Brazil Mars (Scorpio) and trines Brazil Sun and Uranus-Neptune
(Rx, Capricorn); Eclipse Venus (Pisces) disposes Eclipse Point. In the 3rd
house, Brazil’s natal Saturn—ruling its legislative structures—depends heavily
on grass-roots approval. The Eclipse point conjunct this point certainly speaks
to the chaos that has built within Brazil’s government from 2014 to the
present. Brazil’s legislature has been walking
on shaky ground for the past few years, due to the ongoing Petrobras scandal,
linking high government officials in the Dilma Rousseff administration with
corrupt practices. That scandal came to a head on April 18th (just after Mars' retrograde station in Brazil's national 10th house--more about that ahead) with impeachment
proceedings against Rousseff and legal proceedings against the other implicated
officials.
The
Eclipse point’s trine to Brazil’s Uranus-Neptune suggests that Brazil’s robust
growth as an economy (probably related to Pluto’s transit over these Capricorn
points between 2009 and 2015) has hit a wall. We’re seeing this in the current
recession, perhaps triggered by the recent plunge in oil prices (also related
to Pluto). While there may be no direct connection between economic factors and
the Zika emergency, such factors seem to have created some of Brazil’s internal
turmoil, and these in turn may have facilitated Zika’s spread.
Brazilian
citizens are deeply divided over these issues (Brazil Mars opposite Eclipse),
threatening further instability. This is the social/political context into which
the Zika virus has sprung: importantly, Eclipse Venus in Pisces disposes the Eclipse-Point
(conjunct Brazil’s Saturn), highlighting this connection between Brazil’s
challenges with both government and the epidemic (Pisces). Both challenges demand
a tight focus of political will (Brazil Mars-opposite-Saturn) for solutions. With
the Olympic Games coming up in Rio de Janeiro this summer, and a government to impeach, such
focus could be difficult.
Brazil 7th
house Sun (Virgo) opposes Eclipse Neptune/Chiron (midpoint in Pisces).Brazil
Sun inconjoins Brazil Node (Aquarius). Significantly, the erosive force of Neptune and the wounding/healing
energies of Chiron are traveling partners in Brazil’s 1st house,
opposite Brazil’s pragmatic Virgo Sun. This suggests that broad systemic wounds
may underlie the situation, and that solutions may remain out of reach until
those dynamics are healed (Sun inconjunct Node). Only Brazilians can say what
these systemic wounds might be—between their crisis in government and the
spread of Zika virus, the time for radical healing seems to be ripe.
Eclipse Saturn
(Rx Scorpio) conjoins Brazil MC, squares Brazil Venus (Leo). Brazil Venus is
sesquiquadrate Brazil Pluto (Aries); Eclipse Saturn trines Eclipse Chiron. With Eclipse Saturn at Brazil’s
10th house cusp (Equal houses) and Chiron in Brazil’s 1st
house, frustrating pressure has been applied since 2014 to Brazil’s government
and image in the world, as well as its economy. Covering up debt is a
contentious issue with Dilma Rousseff’s administration, implicating Venus-Pluto.
The sesquiquadrate suggests that Brazil’s resource-based economy (oil is
key-Pluto), doesn’t always live within its means (Venus in exuberant Leo), and
the inevitable compromises depend upon a set of values (2nd house Pluto)
that may or—based on the current unrest—may not
be working for the people of Brazil.
Eclipse
Neptune squares Brazil Jupiter-Moon (Gemini). Neither Jupiter nor the Moon
is entirely comfortable in air sign Gemini, but this conjunction still speaks
to the expansive emotions and ingenuity of the Brazilian people, and to the
cultural diversity of the nation. These are all important qualities for
overcoming an epidemic. Medically, there are reasons for concern, however: the
Moon rules bodily fluids, so the square from Neptune reflects how those fluids
have become pathways for transmission of the virus. Jupiter rules the brain’s
cerebrum and its many functions in normal brain development, so Neptune square
this point reflects the damage being done to infant brains developing in the
womb (Moon).
Finally,
yet another sobering thought: the Moon and Jupiter (along with Saturn) also speak
to fertility and population demographics; Neptune’s square to these points highlights
how the Zika virus attacks the viability and reproductive capacity of future generations. Unless contained
quickly, Neptune’s erosive force could diminish those populations in alarming
ways. If this epidemic is like most, it will hurt the most vulnerable to the
greatest degree, so compassionate (Neptune) choices made in the near term will
certainly affect how these troubling scenarios play out.
Eclipse Grand
Trine: Jupiter (Cancer) trines Chiron (Pisces) trines Saturn (Scorpio). Eclipse Jupiter is dignified
and fairly powerful in mid-Cancer; the unleashed quality of the grand trine here
foreshadowed that a lot would happen in a short time, and between 2014 and the
present (April 2016) it certainly has. Focusing just on the Zika crisis, the
virus—and the associated pain (Chiron)—has spread with the ease and flow of a
grand trine since that time. As noted in the introduction, more than 4,000
cases of microcephaly related to Zika infections are now acknowledged, with
numbers steadily rising. Hopefully more current numbers will be published soon.
Saturn
in Scorpio is disposed by a tense Mars-Pluto square (Libra-Capricorn) in this
biwheel, suggesting that a power struggle in progress during this eclipse’s
period of influence may be undermining efforts to focus on the Zika outbreak
going forward. If the eclipse’s unusual duration of over 6 minutes is any indication, Brazil’s severe challenge with this
epidemic may take at least 4 more years to overcome. Even then, the lifelong
(and intergenerational) consequences
of microcephaly will remain. Clearly, Brazil needs help now from the international community!
Eclipse
T-Square: Mars (Libra) opposite Uranus (Aries), all square Eclipse Pluto
(Capricorn). Brazil’s Chiron (Aries) conjoins Eclipse Uranus. The tense Mars-Pluto square
mentioned above is actually part of an even more tense T-square, which reflects
Brazil’s internal turmoil, political stand-offs and otherwise. The convergence
of Brazil’s Chiron with this T-square points to the national “Achilles’ heel”
that has inspired the turmoil. Resource issues, values and the economy (2nd
house) appear to be the focus.
Eclipse
Jupiter (Cancer) inconjoins Brazil Node (Aquarius), while Eclipse Uranus
(Aries) sextiles the same point; Eclipse Jupiter squares Eclipse Uranus, trines
Eclipse Saturn (Rx, Scorpio)-Brazil MC and Eclipse Chiron (Pisces). Brazil has clearly been
caught up in the dynamics of social change illustrated so well by this
configuration. This change has not been unfolding as a neat logical process,
however—it’s been explosive and driven by both chaos and necessity—perhaps the
roots of the corruption challenges being experienced as well. Clearly, the Zika
virus will continue to thrive in an atmosphere of chaos (Neptune), so the
sooner Brazil is able to restabilize its government and any critical institutions
(Saturn-Jupiter), the better. Growth and security (Eclipse Jupiter in Cancer)
going forward will depend upon addressing social and economic wounds (trine Brazil’s
2nd house Chiron).
Final thoughts…
So,
this article doesn’t address whether Dilma Rousseff “rides the storm” or is
“drowned” in her impeachment dilemma after all—Mars’ retrograde transit in
Brazil’s 10th house in the coming months (turning direct at the end
of June conjunct the nation’s Scorpio MC)—will probably tell the story. More
importantly, how will the people of
Brazil fare in their nation’s complicated set of crises? These are incredibly
complex charts, and there is undoubtedly more to say astrologically.
At this
point, however, we might want to consider Nature’s
evolutionary perspective. Are we human beings the enemy of the natural world? If so, what better way to get rid of us
than to undermine our reproductive success with an epidemic that guarantees problems for generations? Panic will get us
nowhere, but to reverse the course of any crisis, the answer is usually to stop enabling the conditions for the crisis. Those potentials also reside in these
charts. Food for thought in Brazil and everywhere
else!
Raye
Robertson is a practicing astrologer, writer and former university English
instructor. A graduate of the Faculty of Astrological Studies (U.K.), Raye
focuses on mundane, collective-oriented astrology, with a particular interest
in current affairs, culture and media, the astrology of generations, and public
concerns such as education and health. Several of her articles on these topics
have been featured in The Mountain Astrologer and other publications over the
years. Raye can be contacted by comment here, or
at: robertsonraye@gmail.com.
© Raye Robertson 2016. All
rights reserved.
[1] Kindhauser MK, Allen T, Frank V, Santhana
RS & Dye C. Zika: the origin and spread
of a mosquito-borne
virus [Submitted]. Bull World Health Organ E-pub: 9 Feb 2016. PDF available at
link.
[2] Celeste Teal, Eclipses: Predicting World Events &
Personal Transformation, Llewelyn Publications, 2006, p. 19.
[3] Teal, p. 11.
