<-------Back to the Chariklo pageINTRODUCTION
Whenever two bodies reach a conjunction, it is the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. Sometimes, due to retrogradation, the conjunction will occur three times (or more in some cases) before the two bodies begin to separate at their individual rates.
Whenever a conjunction of two bodies occurs, I believe that it sensitizes that degree for the duration of that cycle. Thus, a conjunction of the Sun and Moon (which we call the New Moon) is a sensitive point for a month, until the next New Moon.
The present cycle of Chiron and Chariklo began in 1949, with a series of three conjunctions. (Thanks to Juan for doing the calculations.) These three were:
1949 was 50 years ago, of course. And Chiron's cycle is a little over 50 years. So, no matter what the Chiron/Chariklo conjunctions represent, any events that occurred around those dates are experiencing their Chiron returns this year.
We've already seen some of the manifestations in the world around us. More on this in a bit. But first, I want to go back to the events of:
THE YEAR 1949
While the exact conjunctions occurred on the dates listed above, most of 1949 could be said to have been shaped by Chiron and Chariklo. From January 1st to November 15th, those two bodies were never more than 2 degrees apart, and the furthest apart they get by the end of 1949 is about 3-1/2 degrees.
Following the first Chiron/Chariklo conjunction, Bao Dai of Vietnam signed an agreement to set up the Associated State of Vietnam within the framework of the French Union. At the second conjunction, he returned to Vietnam to set up office as the chief of state in the new capital of Saigon. By signing this accord, he alienated many Vietnamese, who could not bring themselves to support this government. To some, he was as good as a traitor to his country. Many believe that Bao Dai set the stage for the Communist takeover of Vietnam.
The previous year, the Soviet Union expelled Yugoslavia from the Cominform, marking a major breakdown in relations between the two countries. But for a time, Yugoslavian rulers denied any of the criticisms that the USSR aimed at their policies. Around the time of the first Chiron/Chariklo conjunction, Yugoslavia made a major decision: instead of trying to deny the accusations of Russia, and instead of continuing to try to copy the USSR, Yugoslavia would seek out its own path, and develop its own economic policies. (As you can imagine, this further angered Stalin.) Yugoslavia began collectivizing agriculture, but over the next two years, the campaign caused a decrease in agricultural output, and the use of coercion eroded peasant support for the government. The Soviet-bloc governments launched an economic blockade against Yugoslavia, and in through Serbo-Croatian radio broadcasts, accused Tito of being a "Judas." They tried to subert Yugoslav party organizations, and to incite unrest among the Albanian, Hungarian and Russian minorities in Yugoslavia. Russian troop movements and border incidents convinced the Yugoslav leaders that they would soon be invaded by the Soviet-bloc countries. This led Tito to close the Yugoslav-Greek border and stop supplying the communists fighting in the Greek Civil War. Around the time of the third Chiron/Chariklo conjunction, Yugoslav's votes in the United Nations began to stray from the Soviet line. Western countries, encouraged by the Yugoslav-Soviet rift, began supplying a great deal of economic aid to Yugoslavia, which truly saved the country from hunger the following year. (On September 8th, the U.S. Export-Import Bank extended a $20 million loan to Yugoslavia to help the Tito government resist Soviet domination.) Also at the time of the third conjunction, the Greek Civil War ended, the communists losing.
The Soviets began to accuse anyone of "Tito-ism" who strayed from the Party Line. At the time of the third conjunction, they staged a large public trial in Hungary of L�szl� Rajk, a former minister of the interior and foreign minister. In an obvious frame-up, he was accused of "Tito-ism" and of having been a Nazi agent during the War. At the end of the trial (Sept. 16th), Rajk was hung publicly as an example to all other Communist leaders.
Here are some more specific events that occurred near the second Chiron/Chariklo conjunction:
I. On April 4th, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded. Chiron and Chariklo were only about half a degree apart.
II. April 18, the Republic of Ireland is declared, formally leaving the British Commonwealth and freeing themselves of any allegiance to the British Crown. Chiron and Chariklo are about a half degree apart. In the following month, the British Parliament approved the Ireland Act, a bill continuing the status of Northern Ireland as a part of Great Britain. I don't have the exact date for this, but of course, Chiron and Chariklo were even closer together than in April.
III. May 12th saw Stalin finally lift the Soviet blockade of Berlin, which was a major kindling point for possible war between the US and Russia. The US had actually considered dropping the A-bomb on the USSR in retaliation for the blockade! At this time, also, Germany was divided into two. The distance between Chiron and Chariklo is only around a quarter of a degree. And less than two weeks later, on May 23rd, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) is officially founded.....with Chiron and Chariklo only about 5 minutes apart.
Near the third Chiron/Chariklo conjunction, some of the events included:
I. On August 29th, The Soviet Union detonates its first atomic weapon. Chiron and Chariklo are only about 7 minutes apart.
II. On October 1st, the Chinese Civil War, which had been raging all during the other two conjunctions, was pretty much over when the Communists proclaimed victory and established the country's new government. There was still fighting going on, but it was clear that the Communists had won. Chiron and Chariklo were around 37 minutes apart. When the Nationalist government fled to Chungking, the two Centaurs were still less than 1 degree apart. And on December 8, when they fled to Taiwan (setting up the present 2-China system), Chariklo, Chiron and the Sun were in a stellium, only a few degrees apart from each other.
III. October 7th marks the date that the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was established. Chiron and Chariklo were around 45 minutes apart.
1999 SO FAR
As I mentioned in the beginning of this article, events from 1949 are experiencing their Chiron Return this year.
MARCH 1999
The month of March began with Chiron at 3 Sagittarius 40, reconnecting with the September 3, 1949 position. As the month progressed, Chiron was slowing down, reaching its retrograde station on March 16 at 3 Sagittarius 53. By April 1, it had retrograded back only so far as 3 Sagittarius 40. What happened in March?
I. In February, the Rambouillet talks were not succeeding, because the Serbians refused to allow NATO ground forces to be stationed in Kosovo. March 15, the Kosover Albanian negotiators signed a proposed agreement, but again the Serbians refused to agree. So NATO announced that, if Milosevic did not agree to the terms, air strikes would begin. As you remember, Operation Allied Force began with the first strikes on March 24th. NATO forces included members from Germany as part of the team. The chart for this military engagement has Chiron conjunct the that Chiron/Chariklo point. Before the engagement came to an end, NATO forces would make several 'errors' in judgement, including the May 7th attack on the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. The Greeks, very much a part of NATO, made it clear that they did not really support NATO's actions in Yugoslavia.
II. On March 6, the New York Times "blows the lid off Clinton administration footdragging in the investigation of Chinese espionage." March 8, the DOE fires Wen Ho Lee. March 15, Senator Inhofe speaks on on National Security issues, China and treasonous conduct. March 18, President Clinton orders an analysis of counterintelligence security threat at U.S. nuclear labs in the wake of suspicions that China stole nuclear weapons designs. March 19, Clinton says at a White House News Conference, "To the best of my knowledge, no one has said anything to me about any espionage which occurred by the Chinese against the labs, during my presidency." March 26, the Senate Intelligence Committee launches a formal investigation into China's possible stealing of US nuclear weapons secrets.
III. March 1, US and Communist China exchange in a war of words over human rights violations. Plus, Beijing is very annoyed over the proposed U.S. missile defense system to protect Japan and South Korea. Why? Because Taiwan also wishes to join. March 5, a senior Chinese official warned the United States that any attempt to bring Taiwan under the proposed Theater Missile Defense (TMD) system in Asia would amount to direct U.S. military involvement in Taiwan and encourage pro-independence forces on the island. Such a move by Washington would be the "last straw," the official said. Beijing argues the missile plan would fuel independence sentiment in Taiwan.
IV. March opened with hopes and prayers that the various parties involved in the Northern Ireland would reach an agreement on April 2 to implement the Good Friday Agreement. As month progressed, there was no sign that the deadline would be met. On March 15th, a lawyer who had successfully defended Nationalist clients was killed by a bomb planted by loyalists, in a hope that the killing would provoke outrage, make the IRA dust off its guns and bombs, and totally destroy any chance for a successful implementation of the Agreement. And violence did break out that night in the deceased's town. The next day, a leading loyalist was shot dead in Belfast. On March 17, President Clinton met, in the White House, with all the major parties of the Northern peace process, but nothing worthwhile came from the meeting. When April 2nd arrived, the parties did meet, but the results were less than desired...they came out with a declaration setting out a schedule for implementing the Agreement, and arranged to meet again April 13th. The April 13th meeting did not bring the hoped for settlement, either. Sinn Fein could not convince the IRA to decommission. And Sinn Fein rejected the Hillsborough Declaration that the Irish and British governments put forward to end the impasse.
The tension between Mainland China and Taiwan heated up during the month of March as well, to the point that in April, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji rebuked Taiwan independence supporters and warned that China has never ruled out force in regaining the island.
OCTOBER 1999
Chiron has been in the shadow of that retrograde station ever since. October 22, Chiron reached 3 degrees Sagittarius (and Taiwan experienced another major earthquake.) On October 28, it again reached 3 Sagittarius 40, and October 30 it reached the exact degree of its station.
October 20 the US Senate voted to throw out the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and there is concern about what message that will send to countries with nuclear arsenals. Russia has told the United States that Washington's failure to ratify a treaty banning nuclear tests is a serious problem for future weapons talks. Russia stopped testing its own arsenal following the end of the Cold War but the Senate decision has made Russian military chiefs think again. "If the US continues nuclear tests then obviously Russia will continue as well. There will be a stand-off all over again," said one.
Both Russia and China have given strong support to a resolution at the United Nations demanding strict adherence to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. The resolution - which is being backed by Russia, China and Belarus - has been presented to the UN General Assembly's disarmament committee.
October 24, the United States Embassy in Moscow sharply curtailed the number of visas issued to Russians.
On October 25, the chart for when the USSR detonated its first atomic weapon experienced its Chiron return.
October 27, U.S. and Russia agree on a joint defense against possible Y2K debacles, planning to set up a special command post in Colorado to insure that potential Year 2000 computer glitches in either nation's missile warning systems do not lead to an accidental launching of a nuclear war.
On October 30, Chiron returned to its position in the chart of the Republic of Ireland.
On October 28, former Senator George J. Mitchell began the last days of his eight-week-old effort to salvage the sinking Irish peace accord. October 31, his mission was extended past its expected weekend conclusion, keeping hopes alive, with rival politicians making conciliatory statements and pledging to press on. November 16 at the Ulster talks, the rival Sinn Fein and Ulster Unionist parties buried decades of feuding and recrimination with mutually accommodating pledges that looked likely to end the stalemate blocking progress.
NOVEMBER 1999
On November 12, Communist China experienced its Chiron return, two days before it returned to the exact position of the May 30, 1949 Chiron/Chariklo conjunction.
November 11, China and the USA renewed negotiations over China's entry into the World Trade Organization. November 12, however, US officials expressed serious pessimism that the negotiations would bear fruit. November 13, in a last-ditch effort to reach an agreement, American negotiators decided to extend their stay for one more meeting. Negotiators talked deep into the night, but by the following morning, no there were still no indications that the two sides were any closer. November 16, American and Chinese negotiators reached a landmark agreement today that would open the economy of China, the world's most populous nation, to foreign competitors and would also make it full partner in the world's trading system.
December 2 Chiron reached the position of the February 13, 1949 conjunction. The following week, NATO and the Republic of Ireland will both have their Chiron Return. Chiron will also return to its position in the chart for the Ireland Act.
November 29, Protestant and Catholic adversaries formed an extraordinary Northern Ireland government that attempts to bring together every branch of opinion within this bitterly divided society. The unprecedented four-party administration includes Catholics who long vowed never to accept Northern Ireland's right to exist, and Protestants just as unwilling to accept Catholics as political equals.
On December 2, Secretary of State Peter Mandelson and Irish Foreign Minister David Andrews signed a new British-Irish Agreement to replace Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985. Northern Ireland gained home rule. The IRA finally agreed to start talking about disarmament. Dublin renounced its territorial claim to the British province of Ulster.
WHAT HAVE WE TO LOOK FORWARD TO?
Tensions between China and Taiwan have not died down, partly fueled by Taiwan's President Lee on July 9th when he tried to break out of diplomatic isolation imposed by Beijing by saying that relations between mainland China and Taiwan should be on a "special state-to-state" basis. This was seen by China as abandoning the one-China policy under which China hopes to bring about eventual unity.
Though France and Germany are both part of the attempt to unify Europe, there is a sudden outpouring of books and anti-German comments in France that aim to stir up new fears of a German takeover of Europe; this propoganda is suggesting that Germany plans to obtain through economic domination what it earlier failed to win by military might. German forces are in Kosovo, as part of the NATO plan, but in their presence makes some people quite nervous. And many are surprised at the astonishing success, of the former Communist Party, in the East Berlin elections this month.
We have a lot of Chiron returns yet to come over the next month or so...not only to the charts of events, but to individual charts as well. It seems a lot is going to occur before we make it to the Chiron Pluto conjunction on December 30.