Malvin Artley has been a practising astrologer for more than 10 years. He is an accredited member of the American Federation of Astrologers.
His primary focus over the past 25 years has been on the sciences as they express occultism and with bridging work between the two. His special interests are the human subtle energy system and all the chakras, or energy centres, physics and technology, astronomy and all aspects of Chinese occultism. He has done extensive work with Chinese astrology and the cycles they use and seeks to synthesize the great Western and Oriental systems on such matters.
Malvin lives in Adelaide, South Australia. He also works in the engineering trades and sends out periodic emails about astrological happenings and developments. Click here to subscribe to Malvin's periodic letters.

Chinese New Year 2008 [part 4]
The Year of the Granary Rat

Malvin Artley concludes his examination of the Chinese Year of the Yellow Granary Rat in 2008.

Palestinian Question

This year completes a 60-year cycle for Israel. If the Palestinian question can be resolved in a manner beneficial to all, security throughout the world would be greatly helped and a possible disaster averted. Iraq and Iran are due for major change this year, too, with the eclipse on their respective horizons. What looms for them? Again, remember that there can be sudden reversals or changes and that existing orders can be overthrown. The UK can be a major force for good in all this. The US could as well, but she is going to have a lot of concerns at home for now.

At this point in time and since we have so little space here I cannot go into what might help various situations, such as what I see for the US, for instance. I do intend to address some of these things later, however, especially with an astrological overview of some of the major countries. I feel that it is time for that now, given the state of the world. We need to know the trend of what is to come so we can be prepared, at least as much as we can be. All I can do right now is to give the major indicators about the year to come, as I see them.

Continuing with the eclipses that condition this year, we have just had a look at the Feb 7th event. Now we need to take a closer look at the 22 Sep 2006 eclipse. It was activated for the first time by Mars on 14 May 2007, at which time there was a breakdown in the coalition government of Fatah and Hamas in the Palestinian National Authority (15 May), after which massive fighting broke out in the Gaza strip. The Sun activations of the eclipse point brought the crackdown in Burma (22 Sep 2007 activation) and a huge bridge collapse in North Vietnam, which killed scores of workers. The 3 Mar 2007 Sun activation saw the chlorine bomb explosions in Baghdad, which injured hundreds, the seizure of British forces by Iran in disputed Iran/Iraq waters and the discovery of 8 human skeletons in Florida, later linked to a serial killer. The 21 Dec 2006 Sun activation brought an oil pipeline explosion in Nigeria, which killed 200, Libya's sentencing of 5 Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor to death for knowingly infecting hundreds of Libyan children with AIDS, Shane Warne's retirement from cricket, the sudden death of Turkmenistan's dictator which gave grave fears of a power vacuum in the region, the execution of Saddam Hussein and eleven bombings in Bangkok just prior to the New Year. There is violence in this eclipse.

We should note that it was a total South Node solar eclipse too, which speaks of endings and disruptions. The Sun activations for this year are, again, on Sep 22 and Dec 21, with a Mars activation on Aug 18. And on the day of that actual eclipse itself? There was the crash of the Maglev train on a test track in Germany, killing 23 and injuring 10 and a coup d'etat in Thailand a few days before, presaging the event and setting the stage for the bombings in Bangkok in December of the next year with the Sun activation. So, watch for events on the dates listed for this year. Those events will bring endings and disruptions. The 22 Sep 06 eclipse will be 'finished' in spectacular fashion by Saturn and Uranus in 2010, most likely around Apr/May that year, with a precursor event in late October the year before. It has already proved itself as an eclipse to be watched in terms of the events it produces.

With the preceding paragraph, this is not to say that such eclipses are all gloom and doom. There were good things that happened around those dates, too. For instance, around the 15 May 2007 Mars activation the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad and the Moscow Patriarchate reunited, ending an 80 year schism, Nicolas Sarkozy became the president of the French Republic, ending the long-serving terms of the Chirac years, 2008 was declared the International Year of Languages by the UN General Assembly, and the ruler of Dubai donated 7.41 billion Euros to an educational foundation in the Middle East, making it the largest single charitable donation in modern history – an ending of ignorance for many, could we say? These were all endings and disruptions in a way, violent and non-violent, and each of them happened in a big way, we should note. These events in and of themselves give us some insight into what can happen when Aries points are activated by eclipse, progression or transit. Nothing is ever of small moment with an Aries point. With that in mind, it is time to have a look at Pluto and Capricorn and its stimulation of both the 0 Capricorn degree and the Sep 2006 eclipse.

Pluto Ingress

A lot has been written in recent months in various forums, letters and articles about the ingress of Pluto into Capricorn, which took place for the first time in over 240 years on the 26th of January this year. The last time it went into Capricorn was on 8 Jan 1762, finally leaving on 2 Dec 1778. Pluto will remain in Capricorn until 20 Nov 2024 – just prior to the projected next dispensation of the Trans-Himalayan Wisdom Teachings (which is essentially Esoteric Buddhism) in 2025. Pluto's ingress into Capricorn this time around thus marks a transitional period wherein the way is cleared for – well, who knows? In a way, we are entering what for many might be considered a 'brave new world' of sorts. There is the much-vaunted date of 2012 on the horizon (Don't leave town just yet, folks.), the looming recession that many people say cannot be avoided, the possibility (still) of a religious war that would be probably the biggest world disaster in modern history, the incredible advances in technology that have taken place since the computer age (instituted in a big way with Pluto in Sagittarius, by the way), the whole 'green revolution' and the crying need for the world to rely on some other source of energy other than oil. In all these things we see the seeds for what is bound to happen as Pluto passes through Capricorn – the destruction of old world orders and the birth of new ones. However, aside from the obvious outer considerations we have just seen, there is another more vital concern with Pluto in Capricorn – the educing of the Soul or higher Self in humanity at large for, more than any other sign, Capricorn governs the emergence of the Soul in humanity and Pluto's work is always about clearing away obstructions to that emergence.

So, what happened the last time Pluto was in Capricorn? The slave trade was at its peak, we saw the dawning of the Industrial Revolution in England, the dawning of the American Revolution in the US, the seeds of the French Revolution being sown in France, the first use of a biological weapon (blankets infected with smallpox given to aboriginals in North America as a form of genocide. Don't we ever learn?), the Cook voyages to New Zealand and Australia, the first submarine, and Mozart (who was a revolutionary in his own right). We also saw the invention of the first toothbrush during that time along with the invention of shoelaces (what did we ever do without those!?), just for a bit of trivia. Basically, that period was a time of liberation from tyranny (Saturn, which rules Capricorn) of various sorts – the tyranny of the divine right of kings, colonial rule, the tyranny of hard labor for simple survival, the tyranny of distance (the first steam engines started to appear during that period) and the tyranny of many types of forms and methods that had persisted for too long. Mozart was a case in point, and he was a major force for change in the world of music, with much of his music being seen as a rebellion against the highly structured Baroque music of the preceding era (ending with Bach's death in 1750). The great classical symphonies of the world began to emerge with composers like Mozart, although they did not begin to appear in a significant way until the last part of the 18th century. There were great pioneering efforts made by people during the Pluto in Capricorn period in the 1700s, though, and those efforts paved the way for what were to be sweeping changes in the entire world order in the decades to follow. The American Revolution, for instance, spelled the beginning of the end for European colonialism, even though the Revolution only took place at the end of the Pluto-in-Capricorn period. (I am particularly proud of the fact that North Carolina was the first colony to declare its independence from England. Go 'Heels!)

The Dispensation of Neptune

One cannot examine astrological factors in isolation, however. There was an entire sub-text to the period when Pluto was in Capricorn in the 1700s as there will be in this period as well. In order to see the whole picture of that period we need to see what was happening with the other outer planets at the same time. Neptune is of special interest in that respect. There is an interesting dance that takes place between Neptune and Pluto with regard to the times when Pluto is in Capricorn. In reality, one cannot be considered without the other with regard to the two planets. Pluto is trapped by the gravitational pull of Neptune and is in synchronous orbit with it, as I have described in previous letters. With all the talk of Pluto and revolution, then, there is a clearer sub-theme that emerges with all of Pluto's work. Pluto, in my opinion, is the servant of Neptune. It clears the way for the revelation of Neptune and higher spiritual work. There is no progress in spirituality without a process of clearing away obstacles first. The two go hand-in-hand. Pluto could be seen as a sort of contractor who goes in ahead of Neptune and does the ground work in preparation. He readies the auditorium for the dispensation of Neptune, in a manner of speaking. There is so much I could say about this, but we have to move on.

In the years between 2008 and 2024 Neptune will be Aquarius and Pisces – world service and world salvation, resp. In the 1700s, Neptune was in Leo and Virgo – both of which are signs in which the unique divinity of the individual is realized, which is why we saw rebellion against the 'Divine right of Kings' in that period, for instance. We can get an idea for what will be revealed to us in the next 25 years or so by looking at what transpired in the period between 1516 to 1533. As it turns out, Neptune goes back and forth between the Aquarius/Leo axis every time Pluto goes into Capricorn. Therefore, since Neptune is in Aquarius this time around, it was in the same place 482 years ago – two cycles of Pluto. There are two main 'events' that stand out in that period almost 500 years ago, namely the Reformation and the first circumnavigation of the globe by Magellan. The former was a radical reorganization of and rebellion against religious authority of the time (namely, the Catholic Church) and the latter was a radical new view of the world at the time. Basically, a whole new world was opened up to Europe. This was the period of the Spanish incursions into North and South America and the South Seas. Spain was in her heyday then. Neither the world nor organized religion has ever been the same since. There are two distinct themes to be discerned from Pluto-in-Capricorn periods, then. When Neptune is in Leo/Virgo the rebellion/revolution brings about changes that benefit individual rights and development and material advancement, which was needed very much in the 1700s. When Neptune is in Aquarius/Pisces for the Capricorn sojourn of Pluto the rebellion/revolution takes place in the realm of universals and there is a distinct shift that takes place in humanity's relationship with God and with the planet itself.

World Religions

All the world religions will be strongly affected by the current sojourn of Pluto in Capricorn. There is also already a decided interest world-wide in the welfare of the planet itself, and not so much in the individual. Do we begin to get the picture? In the 1500s we discovered the wider world. What is left to explore or to transcend on the planet now? Still plenty, as it turns out, but the mind of humanity already ranges far beyond the atmosphere of this Earth. We have yet to fully explore the deepest reaches of our planet. We have just begun to go out into space. Who knows what will develop in the next 20 years? It has been said that the world's religions will undergo transformation in the next decades and that a new religion will come. A universal religion – who knows? I can only give suggestions. I do know the human spirit, however, and any religious system that binds people to a narrow scope of belief, over-structures their lives or demands obeiscence solely to that path will almost certainly be challenged and probably changed in a profound way in the intervening years. In all, people's consciousness will be turned much more toward universal thought and action, even though we will still certainly have more than our fair share of self-serving people in the world. Whatever happens, the world as we know it will change probably very profoundly in the coming decades. I am not going to buy into the whole end-of-the-world-in-2012 scenario, space ships coming to Earth or human consciousness ascending into the realms of the spiritual masters overnight routine, but I think the world will be changed very significantly, nonetheless, and in some quite surprising ways. Capricorn does, after all, govern the emergence of the human soul. One can never second-guess the strange and wonderful actions of the human spirit.

Turning and Change

This year thus marks a point of turning and change. We have been asking for it. We have felt it coming. Now that it is here, what will we make of it? So many people I have talked with speak of how they would like to change the way they work or have to do things. Saturn has been in Virgo over the last few months and will be there for the whole of this year. Virgo is precisely about how we do our work, and many of us need to make some serious choices about that. As I stated before, one cannot discuss astrological factors in isolation. The current ingress of Pluto into Capricorn saw Saturn fully into the sign Virgo and making a retrograde movement toward its direct station on the 3rd of May at the second degree of the sign. There were choices made by many of us in early September 2007 that are being re-examined now. Some things have worked, some have not. Saturn will be in that shadow period until mid-August, so the first half of this year is a period of reconsidering prior to moving forward. If you have made some choices that were perhaps not the best, then you have the chance over the next few months to bring circumstances back to a more proper state of affairs. Virgo also rules armies, too, and all modes of mandatory service. If there is to be major military action, aside from what is already going on throughout the world, I would look for it more toward mid-August and after. Saturn will be well and truly on the move then, and so will the world's armies. Interestingly, Virgo rules conceit, as do the Sun and Mercury. Pluto and Saturn are both great 'levelers' when it comes to the human ego. We may well see some unmasked motives (re: the symbol for the Feb 7 eclipse) and some bruised and battered egos throughout the world. I have the strong sense that this year might have an underlying theme of lessons around humility running through it.

Finally, the last time Pluto was in Capricorn there was also a Granary Rat Year – 1768. What happened then? James Cook set off on his voyage to the Pacific. That was the biggest single event of note. There were some famous people born in that year who would strongly influence human culture in decades to come – Francis II (the last Holy Roman Emperor), Jean Baptiste-Joseph Fourier (French mathematician famous in the world of physics. Good example of a Yellow Rat, he was.) and Dolly Madison, one of the more famous first ladies of the US. Not every cycle or period produces astounding results. The 1768 Rat Year was a case in point, although it did eventually give us modern Australia and New Zealand, once Cook had discovered them. Sometimes, however, planets and events conspire to give us events and people who make a big mark in the history books. When the year is done we will have a look back and see if what I have described in the previous pages of these letters proves out – that 2008 will be a major year in history, comparatively speaking. It is already off to a rather ominous start with the death of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (Remember him?) and several killer tornados in the south central US (22 dead so far as of this writing).

Limitless Possibilities

We live increasingly in a time of limitless human possibilities. We have communications in an instant now, and world-wide. Such a thing would have been undreamt of in the last Granary Rat Year, yet the very invention that made such communications possible was manifested during that year. As we spiral upwards (or is it out of control?) in the evolutionary process, each achievement is a stepping stone to the next. So it is with our own personal lives as well – or at least it can be if we are mindful enough. In the years to come take a look at what you have done well, what you have learned well and see how that might define a process or a pathway toward something great in your life. Perhaps you will be or already are an example of greatness to others. I think you will find a clear path if you look. There is a mysterious 'something' that always draws us irresistibly down a given path. Hopefully we choose the right path. Whatever happens, though, that 'something' is always there. It is revealed to us in our highest passions, our most altruistic moments and in our deepest troubles. Yet, very often we fear its appearance or mistake something lesser for the real thing. In this year, especially, take the time to sit by the path you have chosen, wait and watch. The truth you are after will appear. The trick is not to blink, be distracted or fall asleep when it appears. I hope you find it. I call it the human Soul, or higher Self. There are many names for it. If you do miss it this time, not to worry. Events will conspire, and it will always, eventually and inexorably find you. I hope you find your jewels. Happy hunting!

Blessings to you all this New Year!
Malvin
7 Feb 2008

As a further note of interest, famous people born in the Year of the Granary Rat:

1888

Ernst Heinrich Heinkel, German inventor (1st rocket-powered aircraft)
Henry King, US director (Jesse James, 12 O'Clock High)
John Foster Dulles/ Knute Rockne, Norwegian-US football player
James E. Casey, founder of the United Parcel Service
Gertrude Bridget "Ma" Rainey, American singer, "the mother of the blues"
Russell Stover, candy manufacturer
Songwriter Irving Berlin
Miles Malleson, writer, actor (Phantom of the Opera, Postman's Knock)
John Logie Baird, inventor (father of TV)
British soldier T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia
Joseph P. Kennedy, Boston Mass., diplomat, father of JFK, RFK & Teddy
Maurice Chevalier
T.S. Eliot
Eugene O'Neill, Nobel Prize-winning playwright
Richard E. Byrd, U.S. aviator and explorer who made the first flight over the North Pole
Andrej N. Tupelov, Russian aircraft builder
Adolph Arthur "Harpo" Marx
Dale Carnegie, public speaker
Fritz Reiner, US conductor

The 1948 births are too numerous to mention. There are a lot of older rockers in that list – Alice Cooper, Kenny Loggins, Tommy Iommi and the like. If you care to have a look, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948 Have fun!

2008 ----Your child or grandchild, if you have one! :-)

This concludes the article.

Return to the start of The Chinese New Year, the Year of the Granary Rat

Malvin Artley is an accredited member of the American Federation of Astrologers. His primary focus over the past 25 years has been on the sciences as they express occultism and with bridging work between the two. His special interests in those fields are the human subtle energy system and all the chakras, or energy centres, physics and technology, astronomy and all aspects of Chinese occultism.
He sends out periodic emails about astrological happenings and developments. These letters are sent out as a gift and a service. If you wish to be added to or deleted from the mailing list please let me know. If you feel inspired to pass them on please do so, but do so without alteration or charge. They are sent to people of many persuasions, not just astrologers. Blessings. Click here to subscribe to Malvin's periodic letters.

Chinese New Year 2008 [part 4]The Year of the Granary Rat