Mars in Virgo

[Jim Eshelman]

Mars has entered Virgo. I'd like us to watch the news etc to see what the mundane astrological themes are for the time of this passage.

The main thing going on right now, of course, is Congress accelerating its impeachment inquiry that began in the last couple of days of Mars in Leo. This might be Virgonian in the sense that it is procedural, inquiring (it's called an "inquiry"!), etc. But I don't want to jump to hasty conclusions: There might be other Virgo themes.

[Jim Eshelman]

The primary news that has any relationship to Mars in Virgo still seems to be the Congressional inquiry triggered by the CIA whistleblower's report. Keeping an eye on this.

[Lance]

The Natal Aspect Summary for Mars in VIrgo:

SUMMARY: Strategic, analytical, logical, calculating odds (often deceitful, covert, manipulative, gamey). Very smart, curious, astute, eager to learn everything possible (intelligence is more accessible than feelings). Stands ready to assist, help, support. Substance abuse (alcoholics).

It doesn't seem really fair to apply this to politics of one time and not to another since strategy and deceitfulness seem always to be the norm, but I'm still tempted to apply this in the case of the impeachment inquiry because it seems at long last Pelosi is playing her hand - and it's strategic and an inquiry.

[Jim Eshelman]

Yeah, right?

Oh, and... She's a Pisces.

[Jim Eshelman]

The main major news that seems to thematically fit continues to be the impeachment inquiry, but I wanted to review some other thematic possibilities, just to get the wheels spinning.

Historically (I'd forgotten this), major transits of Virgo have specifically stirred ecological activism (the passage of Uranus and then Pluto through Virgo being the most obvious). What day did Greta first make the news in a big way? Was Mars already in Virgo? If so, that's an equally strong story for this transit, since it's still burning strong.

Major transits of Virgo have also stirred women's issues. In fact, the '70s wave of loudly stirred feminist activism (plus the specific incident of the Roe decision in '73) were all matched to Pluto in Virgo.

Bradley felt such transits connected to erasure of class distinctions - sort of an anti-Sagittarius - playing Virgo's connection to "common folks." (One of the greatest "erasure of class distinction" stories is Cinderella, and Fagan commonly called Virgo "the Cinderella of the zodiac.") I'd generalize this to working class issues, labor issues, and especially service issues (Saturn in Virgo has stirred service industry union conflicts and generally made the service sector more valuable.)

Another mark of the Pluto transit through Virgo (related to the ecological issues, but not entirely) was focus on health issues, but I don't think we can seriously link this to the current healthcare debate which has been going on for years.

There seems a sense in which transits of Virgo affect how people's minds are working - much like Mercury in the psychological sense. For example, Neptune in Virgo marked years of early Cold War "red scare" paranoia and related themes. A mental tone might be affected by Mars here. Other code words are purity, hygiene, social progressivism, white collar economics, strategy and tactics, acute detail and analysis. Expect an aggressive drive to "get the facts."

[Jim Eshelman]

In addition to the Congressional inquiry and ecological warring, I've been thinking that the entire Turkey-Syria story is another Mars in Virgo story, at least in terms of it resting on sneaky deals and covert strategy but also by its military implications.

We've also had several weeks of a General Motors strike that, however, might be over today.

[Jim Eshelman]

A couple of other themes have been reflected in the news that might be a reflection of Mars in Virgo. I'm not convinced they are, but thought it worth mentioning. We may have to wait a couple of years for another Mars in Virgo cycle (or do some historic research), but I mention them because theoretical thematic matches.

First, is the run of opioid trials dominating the news. This would be based on what are primarily Tropical thinking (but which Bradley went along with several times) that Virgo is related to the health industry. (I'd say "health industry" more than "health issues," e.g., I do recall nursing strikes when Saturn was in Virgo etc.). This legal war on the pharmaceuticals industry began months before Mars was in Virgo and will continue years after, but is getting some particular attention right now.

Second, there are mass uprisings and protests of people in the streets around the globe right now. In most cases these are "common man" complaints against hardship or government actions to their disfavor. In the spirit of Virgo as "common man" (please forgive the gendered term, I haven't yet found a substitute that exactly catches the same tone), Mars here could be heating them up.

One might also add the heating up strategic and digital arms race of social media (what a Virgo term!) mobilizing against Russian and other troll farms and bot farms in the heat-up of the 2020 election.

Of course, the big story remains the impeachment inquiry. That one is an easy slam-dunk fit to this passage,

[Lance]

I don't have the tools to look it up at the moment, but I think the events of October 23, when the House Republicans stormed the sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) in which Laura Cooper was being deposed really fits the Mars in Virgo strategizing, manipulative, and gamey nature.

This link has a rough timeline for the day, but the times given dispute the characterization that there was an "over 5 hour delay." Seems like almost exactly 4 hours.
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/trump ... 019-10-23/

[Jim Eshelman]

We've also had several weeks of a General Motors strike that, however, might be over today.

We've also now been through the Chicago teachers' strike.

[Jim Eshelman]

Mars enters Libra tomorrow. I think this thread has helped me sort out quite a lot about Mars passing through Virgo in terms of mundane astrology. The passage is September 26 to November 11.

Clearly it's primary expression was in terms of the House of Representatives' impeachment inquiry that Speaker Pelosi announced September 24 (with Mars at 29° Leo) and which, two days after Mars leaves Virgo for Libra, switches into a new public face more akin to adjudication than inquiry. It has been an aggressive drive to "get the facts." (Current public estimates are that the House's impeachment hearings, beginning November 13, will "be done by Christmas." Mars will be in Libra November 11 to December 26.)

Other themes that emerged in the news during this time and held a strong place in the news include:

Ecological activism ("Earth justice"): Historically, major transits of Virgo have specifically stirred ecological activism. Greta Thunberg brought attention back to this with her strong public appearances during this time.

Erasure of class distinctions (sort of an anti-Sagittarius), Virgo's connection to "common ("working class") folks." Virgo's connection to "common folks." Working class issues, labor issues, and especially service issues led the news during this time especially with some significant labor strikes (especially auto workers and teachers).

Related to this, there have been mass uprisings and protests of people in the streets around the globe during these weeks. In most cases these are "common man" complaints against hardship or government actions to their disfavor. In the spirit of Virgo as "common folks," Mars could be heating them up.

Also heating up has been strategic and digital arms race of social media (what a cluster of Virgo themes!) mobilizing against Russian and other troll farms and bot farms in the heat-up of the 2020 election.

A wider collection of traditional Virgo issues easily discernible in the last several weeks of news include code word purity, hygiene, social progressivism, white collar economics, strategy and tactics, acute detail and analysis. With Turkey and Syria, plenty of sneaky deals and covert strategy.

But, of course, the big story was the impeachment inquiry.

[Jim Eshelman]

Interpretation derived from the above:

Strategic inquiry and analysis (sneaky deals, covert strategy; military calculations?), aggressive drive to "get the facts." Working class, labor, and service issues (labor strikes, blue color activism and economics), "common persons" warring against hardship. Ecological activism ("Earth justice"). Possible related themes: Purity, hygiene, social progress, health industry (including pharmaceutical ) litigation & conflicts.

[Jim Eshelman]

I keep forgetting to note... All these strikes coming to a head (especially IAW) and passionate focus on labor is happening with Mars in Virgo.

We saw this three years ago with the same transit.

[SteveS]

Yes, interesting.

[Lance]

Amazing. It’s all amazing. Every new insight is impossible and amazing. Smh