Rollan's Censored Issues Blog

THE ACHRISTOU FACTOR AND SOME REFLECTIONS FOR DAY, 6-6-06

2006-06-06T05:42:00.001+10:00

6-6-06 comes once a millennium (in American date numbering at least!) and like it or not the Antichrist is hot. 6-6-06 is the number of Therion, the Beast,the Antichrist (not the devil as claimed by Dan Brown who gets every fact wrong). Two films, both on the Antichrist, The Beast, from film maker Brian Flemming (see below) and an update of the seventies film The Omen are having premieres. Death metal rock group, Deicide, is releasing an album (The Stench of Redemption) to help Satanists celebrate. At the other pole since the day falls the week of Christian Pentecost the Spirit is being invoked by Christians worldwide. Even so, we don’t believe in Friday 13th so what’s in a day date?

I never assumed the day could signify much and I’m not about to say any Antichrist (lit. anti or replacement Messiah) will appear on cue……but……I believe 6-6-06 falls within a broad period of significance that it does its part to reflect and produce The following goes a little way to explain how. I shall also unveil some research on the sinister Achristou factor on which no one has ever commented and one would need to be a specialist to do so or want to. But prophecy, theology and occult buffs should all to find it relevant to their various inquiries. First however to define where we are in point of time.

6-6-06 and 2006 in History

2006 (along with ‘07) is a very special time in history if one accepts any principle like celestial signs or astrological influence. Two major transits affect both years and are the background against which all the rest must be read.

Pluto conjuncting the Galactic Centre

Major contacts to the Galactic Centre (GC) regularly involve major world events (it’s good for stock market crashes) but especially in religion. John the Baptist started preaching when Pluto (the “hidden God” death and transformation planet) crossed the GC, a slow moving point that in AD 27 had just entered Sagittarius, the beliefs sign. Visionary and revivalist type phenomena seem regularly to attend transits of the GC by outer planets. The Welsh Revival occurred with Uranus conjuncting it in 1904 as a couple of centuries before it had at the Jonathan Edwards revival in America. When Pluto last conjuncted the GC in the eighteenth century England experienced the Methodist revival with its extreme phenomena. We’ve had foretaste of the potential religious upheavals of the current transit with the Mohammed Cartoons crisis but more is likely to follow – since though it’s already within conjunction slow Pluto’s first perfect crossing of the GC isn’t till year’s end. Australia could be especially vulnerable since its Jupiter (beliefs, religion) is natally conjunct the GC so awaits whatever Pluto may do to it. Israel is also vulnerable, its Jupiter likewise conjuncts the GC but will be transited in 07 and 08 rather than this year. One suspects Israel could be struck by messianic fever .

Neptune conjuncts Christ’s Reputation Midheaven

Neptune is mystical and charitable but since few can live its highest potential its motions often correspond to mere muddle, deception and lies particularly in a year when Neptune squares Jupiter (beliefs and the truth principle) in the heavens and Saturn squares Jupiter (restriction to truth). But as Neptune approaches specifically Christ’s reputation linked natal Midheaven (I have maintained for some years now that I have the true data for Christ’s birth and I am familiar with how it works to the point of being able to predict from it) distortion and lies about Christ emerge, not least through the medium of film that at one octave of meaning Neptune rules. So we have everything from The Jesus Papers and The Gospel of Judas in print to The Da Vinci Code and The Beast and The Omen in films. Neptune’s conjunction is near exact this year but is perfect next year so ongoing controversy and scandal around Christ’s image can be expected. This again is a rare transit. Last time it occurred was in 1842 and it corresponded to the new image of Christ introduced by such as Mormonism and something like the birth of modern atheism in the English speaking world with the opposition more directed at the churches than directly at Christ which would have been too controversial at that time………Now for Achristou.

SINISTER and SATANTISTIC: THE ACHRISTOU FACTOR

Achristou belongs to an Aleister Crowley vibe. It’s not an Antichrist Super Star (to suit certain rock titles and tastes), it’s a/the Antichrist asteroid but it works, speaks, reveals.

This rock in space with meaning was discovered by astronomer J.D. Asher on 3.2.1995. Asher called his rock after the Greek born, wonderfully named, doubtless un-sinister, research astronomer of Ireland’s Armagh Observatory, Apostolos Christou (Apostle of Christ). Achristou elides Christian first name initial with surname to create something not in the Greek lexicon but which could be considered a neologism. Rather as the prefix a in Greek based words can give us agnostic or atheist, this supplies a meaning like “not of the Christ”, “freedom from Christ”. Biblical Greek uses antikristos, (the antichrist, lit. anti messiah), so this asteroid doesn’t give us that word precisely.

The question is: does it give the meaning? Since asteroids (the new dimension in astrology) are found to work on a word vibe the unexpected answer is, yes. That something Antichrist appears involved can be demonstrated through examples like those below. Plus Achristou’s discovery took place with the symbolically variable Venus - depending on context it is Christ as “the bright morning star” of Revelation or it’s “Lucifer” - conjuncting the Galactic Centre (events in religion). The asteroid itself was found in Virgo, Christ’s natal sun sign according to myself and various astrologers and theologians thus setting up a suggestive Christ-Antichrist contrast.

Achristou is harder to test than other new factors because we all have Achristou somewhere and many people, even with strong anti Christian sentiments, can’t (short of being merely judgmental or superstitious) be classified as little antichrists. So data must involve close, descriptive, obviously relevant contacts and with one exception below, a pop diva, I keep to where on an obvious creedal or policy basis a person or institution is promoting, (or a person or institution is in conflict with) certifiably Antichrist identified interests.

NINE EXAMPLES OF ASTEROID ACHRISTOU

Satanist, Aleister Crowley
Take the real life would-be Antichrist, Satanist Aleister Crowley (born 12.10.1875) who called himself Therion, The Beast. He shows Achristou at 3 Virgo (Christ’s sign) in close easy trine to his natal destiny/reputation house Neptune (at 2 of Taurus), a Neptune which at the same time was Crowley’s ruler of his ninth of religion/philosophy. So both his religion and would-be reputation distinctly converge on 666 through Achristou.

Rock Star, Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson, self styled “Antichrist Superstar” star was born 5.1. 1969 so as a Capricorn, Saturn is his natural ruler. Achristou at almost 19 Aries conjuncts his natal Saturn at 21. Needless to say, and despite the fact astrologers since medieval times have regarded Saturn as in some contexts the devil, most Capricorns aren’t Satanists. However Manson’s position of Achristou must take the natural Saturn link into account in his case. The more so given the position of his Hella (Old Saxon and Old High German for Hell which I have found is the true Hell asteroid). For MM it falls within one degree conjunct his natal 15 degree Capricorn sun. So he’s well into a devil/hell interests.

Satanist, Anton Le Vey
Author of The Satanic Bible and the First Temple of Satan, Le Vey (born 11.2.1930). Perhaps I should say first that the signature for specifically his The Satanic Bible is almost certainly asteroid Lucifer at the midpoint of Sun (identity) with Mercury(writing). However in addition he shows Achristou at 11 of Pisces in exact opportunity sextile to Saturn in its natural sign Capricorn, (love of the goat of Mendes perhaps?!) and exact semi sextile to Uranus in Aries. More significantly it is also in stress square to religion/philosophy/truth planet, Jupiter, at 13 of Gemini.

Film Maker, Brian Flemming
Ex fundamentalist, now atheist film maker Brian Flemming, (born 6.6.1966) has produced a thriller called The Beast related to Antichrist ideas (a fundamentalist girl realizes Jesus never existed and is persecuted as ”The Beast” by crazed fundamentalists). The film dramatizes ideas related to Flemming’s documentary, The God Who Wasn’t There. In this case Achristou conjuncts Flemming’s fated nodes at 25 Taurus and depending on the time of birth (I’ve used a round midday) it may well trine his moon in Capricorn (that sign again! ) so that he can easily make his Antichrist views very public. (I would further maintain that natally his Neptune - anything to do with films and disappearances - squares Christ’s reputation Midheaven, so one way of realizing this signature is to try to make Jesus disappear through film). This is a person of paradox greatly self deceived whose very rationalism puts him in line with a certain occultism. A bit like….

Antichrist Philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche
Nietzsche, an influence on Nazism and Hitler, authored Der Antichrist. Asteroid Achristou is dynamically related to his natus. At 24 Gemini it stress squares his 25 Virgo Midheaven of career/reputation within less than a degree while it trines his 22 Libran sun and squares his 24 Pisces Jupiter, the religion/philosophy/truth planet. Note the conflict with the Virgo/Pisces axis so involved with the Christianity which Nietzsche considered a contribution to “slave morality” and a worldview with too much emphasis upon compassion. His refusal of compassion influenced Nazism and….

Adolph Hitler Himself
If Nostradamus foresaw Hitler in his Hister forecast, then he called this person an Antichrist, though Hitler was more performing an Antichrist type role than closely identifying with Antichrist belief/theory as such (though perhaps anti-Semitism would be enough to qualify). Here Achristou as for Flemming conjuncts his fated Nodes (south nodes in Capricorn, that Saturnian sign again!) exactly to within minutes of a degree. From here it trines within a degree Hitler’s Venus/Mars conjunction so he can easily perform and persuade towards Antichrist deeds. In passing I’ll note that Hitler has Hella (Hell) sextile his Saturn compared to Crowley who had it in trine to Saturn.

Pop Diva, Madonna
Really? No kidding !? Granted she’s not going around composing Satanic Bibles or doing evil like Hitler but…..not even to consider how her use of Jesus themes in entertainment may have desensitized society towards the sacred generally (a few days ago to launch her new Confessions tour she has descended on stage crucified and with a crown of thorns) it’s a fact that she has an obsession with Messiahs to the point of negotiating to buy property where some Kabbalists say the next one will appear. Whatever….Madonna’s natal sun is not only exactly square Achristou but, lending more significance (since we all have the asteroid somewhere hopefully inoperative!) the asteroid is in her ninth house of religion. Perhaps the square tells us the born again to be Esther is not too happy with her position, but by the rules something negative is indicated. And what might her personal evolution yet incline her to promote if Messiahs and Mahdis actually started to appear?

Iran President Ahmadinejad
This President (born 28.10.1956) denies the Holocaust, wants Israel wiped off the map and has affirmed Islam’s claims to world rule. Most recently he has encouraged President Bush to cooperate in higher things, arguably gently inviting him to convert which the Hadith requires he do before any declarations of jihad are made. Ahmadinejad expects the Mahdi to appear within two years which if such a figure emerged could have Antichrist implications. Ahmadinejad has Achristou at 25 Leo. It is in opportunity sextile to Mercury (giving news about) at 25 Libra and connecting semi-sextile to Venus (he could meet this person) at 25 Virgo (itself conjunct religious Jupiter at 23 Virgo). Depending on birth time Achristou may be conjunct Ahmadinejad’s moon also – at midday for which I set my chart it is so closely.

Jeane Dixon’s Anti Messiah
Whether or not her celebrated vision of an alleged Antichrist (born 5.2.1962) was right or wrong, the birth data for seeress Jeane Dixon’s false prophet shows Uranus, ruler of his sun sign Aquarius, conjunct Achristou, in turn conjunct regal and fame giving fixed star, Regulus (28 degrees to Uranus with Regulus at 29 Leo). Discovery time for asteroid Achristou had Sun in Aquarius at 15. Dixon’s figure, if real, was born with Sun and Mercury at 16 of Aquarius. We recall that around 15 Aquarius in a world point. It would take too much space to explain why Dixon’s figure seems so fitting for what she describes, I shall merely say there are sufficient reasons to make one suspicious she could yet be proved right and maybe, as she believed, the purpose of her life was to receive her vision of the Anti-Messiah. Anyway asteroid, Dixon is fittingly enough directly opposed, hostile, to the Mars of the person she saw.

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WHO OWNS THE DA VINCI CODE FILM FLOP?

2006-05-21T22:33:00.000+10:00

Clearly the film isn’t the book. It’s hard to say just what’s wrong with it but the critics are basically right that’s it’s not all right. Something about The Da Vinci Code film doesn’t gel; Hanks seems lost, the music doesn’t quite fit, the scenes are good but the pace of the drama falters, the script leaves something to be desired, the conclusion is silly – how could one have a tribeload of people (as though to half duplicate the end of the Titanic movie), ready waiting for Sophie when she turns up on her surprise visit to Rosslyn Abbey?

So it’s a poorly paced melodramatic mess, but what about the treatment of and effect for religion?

Let’s be clear we’re dealing with ideologies here, not just entertainment. In what’s a rather serious charge, the chairman of The Christian Film and Television Commission has stated at a Washington news conference that the essentially anti-Christian and anti Semitic film that DVC is was financed by British Muslim, Mohammed Yusef’s Invicta Capital to the tune of 200 million dollars - the greater part of the film’s cost. As Baehr commented “it's a very serious problem when people start funding movies and books to attack somebody else's religious faith." And a double standard is involved because we have Muslims erupting in violent protests when they believe their own faith is attacked.

How Anti Christian is The Da Vinci Code film?

In some respects the film is fairer than the book. Brown’s total distortion of the facts about Constantine and Nicene and their supposed late invention of Christ’s divinity, is questioned, and the film’s position is likewise agnostic on numbers of Brown’s “facts”. However the tone is still either polemical or agnostic to the point of being spiritually undermining. Actor Ian McKellan (who had quipped at the premiere that if Brown had written "fiction" the Bible should carry the disclaimer it was "fiction") as Sir Leigh Teibing has a ranting speech which virtually says the world would be a kinder, juster, saner, safer place if it could be freed from belief in Christ’s divinity. And towards the film’s end Hank’s badly acted Robert Langdon is given a fairly lengthy exposition to Sophie (who has discovered she’s a descendant of Christ) to the effect that it doesn’t matter what Sophie thinks of the discovery or whether Jesus was divine or not because our beliefs are what make us and the world. We are in effect sold a New Age line in personal development and religious indifference or perhaps indifference to the nature of Truth in itself.

Tales of Beelzebub

Although there are ultra democratic people objecting that Christians are objecting to the distortions and critiques offered to their faith by The Da Vinci Code film, it’s a fact that no other religion would tolerate the treatment. Obviously I don’t mean the imprisonment or even execution others might impose would be right, but I do think Brown has crossed for profit boundaries he has no right to cross. Religious freedom in a society must include beyond critical freedom the idea of a basic respect for whatever faith is involved and perhaps too insure the cultural air is kept sufficiently clear for the delicate quality of the spiritual to be breathed, not polluted in the way that Dan Brown, however entertaining as a thriller writer, is polluting the atmosphere by exploiting high themes often through recourse to what historians of all persuasions know is lies and disinformation. Despite introducing his fiction with a declaration of its truth to fact, the list of his errors in terms of history, art, theology etc is truly astonishing. I have mentioned a few in my article
“Dan Brown and the Magdalene in Astrology”
Horoscope Magazine’s bi-annual almanac edition, for June but issued this week (Australia and New Zealand only).
It’s interesting that Brown’s writer’s Mercury is in exact aspect to asteroid Lucifer as though he were supplying us Beelzebub’s tales - which maybe he is.

Two points I didn’t make in the article. First that Brown's heroine, Sophie, is called this because she represents Sophia, Wisdom, the Gnostic being whose fall from the heaven prompted accidental creation of the material realm. In many respects the cult of DVC is promoting the old Gnostic heresy. Second, the film was bound to be less than wonderful and perhaps a less than successful flop. The premiere days were variously 18th and 19th May with the Cannes Festival run on the 17th. Whatever the date both Sun and Mercury were in the last degrees of Taurus, these being considered difficult, unfortunate degrees. Together they would tend to make or at least reflect that things were about as ponderous as they were though the film's tone is somewhat Taurean arty/classic.

Whether or not Dan Brown is giving us Beelzebub’s tales , my next dish will be on 6-06 6-and will unveil the Achristou factor and consider the Antichrist phenomenon and venture a prophecy.

For more controversies see website
Rollan McCleary

THE GREAT SCIENTIFIC BLINDSPOT

2006-05-04T11:50:00.000+10:00

This Blog is about Censored Issues. The following article was offered to THE AUSTRALIAN newspaper in response to a report (28.4.06) on a rubbishing of astrology by scientists. It was sent to the Chief of Staff, the Science and Features editors. The last two sent automatic responses in their absence with alternative addresses from which I have not received even automatic rejection notices. (Granted most journalists and publishers don't use them but in courtesy they might). As a published author however I might receive a basic acknowledgement. (In France Le Monde invites published authors to express their views prominently). And some statements below might anyway have invoked response out of caring concern about the serious suppression involved. But alas Australia doesn't much respect its writers or artists,we're all so very very equal they can take their place in line with Joe Citizen and his opinions. As to astrology and religion they exist to be dismissed on almost any and every count anyway.

THE GREAT SCIENTIFIC BLINDSPOT

Maybe it’s because astrology is now gaining academic respectability, taught as a subject in such as Southampton, Bath, and Seattle universities, that scientists, beginning to panic, are determined to launch an attack. It had been reasonably established some years ago from the tests of such as the psychiatrist Hans Eysenck and the statistics of Michel Gauquelin (the former on extraversion and introversion around the sun signs, the latter on planetary influence on vocational dispositions), that there was something to astrology. Now in a recent study (reported The Australian 28th April) German and Danish scientists are attacking what is popularly considered the central issue of the sun sign to indicate there is nothing at all to astrology. They can find nothing to support different intelligence levels (I wasn't aware sun signism even dealt in that!) or character by the sun sign. Nothing?

Scientists are more than hard to please. Over a couple of decades ago now the Academy of Sciences in Belgium had told Gauquelin that if his (thousands of) cases could prove astrology by statistics we should no longer believe statistics. That’s not science it’s scientism, a new form of blinkered radical fundamentalism one which refuses dialogue. Astronomer Percy Seymour of the Plymouth Observatory in England found he was sent to Coventry by the scientific community in England for daring to suggest there might be something in Gauquelin’s statistics. Basically scientists don’t reckon to speak with those involved in astrology unless to tell them they are wrong.

Take noted astronomer, David Hughes. In the late seventies he wrote extensively on ancient astrology and its presumed connections to the birth of Christ. Developing his theories I claim to have found Christ’s birth data with innumerable proofs for it. But not with the Society of Authors appealing, his publisher asking, or an editor of one of my books who knows Hughes more recently mentioning me to him, has he ever deigned in years to contact me to answer questions or discuss matters. His indifference must be accounted one of the reasons I have been unable to advance my rather devastating discoveries for public debate. Breaking the PR barrier in this area is a formidable task even for a published author.

How can and will anyone one “scientifically” perceive and test in detail what sun signs claim? If you don’t wish to prove the case you never will because a lot of what's involved is at once special and elusive and linked not just to psychology but to such as medical associations like body parts in a way no one would care to test for. For example, Cancer the mother sign is the sign of the breasts. On this year’s Australian Big Brother, one of its housemates is a Cancerian so insecure about her breasts she has had a boobs job - at twenty. Another Cancerian housemate arrived on the show in a state of display suggesting she had no such hang-ups. Last year, Scorpio, sign of sex and the genitals, engaged Big Brother in issues that got political after a Scorpio flashed his penis and stuck it in the hair of a housemate he was styling. Most Scorpios won’t behave like that but maybe something along those lines will be more of an issue for them than others in the course of their lives. Such happened for myself and film maker, Tony Pitman, both Scorpios who, incredibly given current western trends, were charged by police with wilful obscene exposure for taking part in a nude demo so that one had to sit in court and hear arguments over whether we had in fact exposed our “members”. This year’s BB star could well be the Gemini Michael who has been displaying facets of the Geminian trickster archetype in the sheer playful relish with which he has agreed to double cross and chat up housemates, fib and steal from them. Will statistics catch the Gemini/Mercury thief, seducer associations, which of course not all Geminis for ethical reasons will display however well qualified – they may like Dorothy Sayers just prefer to write or read or talk about crime instead?

In some respects the problem is that astrology is not too little but too terribly accurate. I read best selling philosopher Alain de Botton’s horoscope and clearly didn’t make him too comfortable. I was able to demonstrate not just how planets worked but even how name asteroids show his favourite philosophers and which he deals with in his The Consolations of Philosophy. These are marked out in advance in his chart which was well triggered for publication of his breakthrough bestseller on Proust, asteroid Proust being strong natally and just waiting its moment.

This kind of thing isn’t good news for atheist philosophers and sceptical scientists. It’s obviously too much like fate or biblical statements about the night skies uttering knowledge and God naming the stars. Ironically, in the data I have for Christ, asteroid David Hughes exactly opposes the magian associated asteroid Chaldaea, betraying this scientist’s alienation from the astrology he researched; and, falling as Hughes’ asteroid does in the prideful sign of Leo it arguably betrays the status issues affecting his dislike…as some astrologers would say, the stars give you the Last Judgement in advance.
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If you want to test sun signs this side of social respectability the best way to go might be via literature, philosophy and art. One needs to take creative individuals minimally subject to average cultural conditioning. This way native style and archetypes emerge. It soon becomes evident that the ego of Aries is a real thing from the Cogito of Descartes to the transcendental ego of Husserl. One will then see how this contrasts with its opposite sign Libra, the relationship sign which adopts the almost Buddhistic, no self position of Oscar Wilde and Heidegger for whom the starting point is not the self but the Dasein, the being with others, and what’s already in this world. If you want to do philosophy with water sign Cancer go to Iris Murdoch (whose prize winning fiction work was suitably The Sea, The Sea) who talks about human consciousness being “soaked in value” and writes philosophy in a stream of thought like the Cancerian Proust, a writer who like Murdoch scarcely has room or time for a paragraph division in the onrush. Cancer Kafka allows you a few paragraphs but is also soaked in streams of thought and drowning in seas of confusion. If you want to try music instead of literature take Wagner, Richard Strauss and Stravinsky. If you can't appreciate how they are distinctly Geminian magicians then you may be a little lacking by way of synthetic intelligence and need a few intuitional abilities transcending the style of scientific fact collecting.

I have written of these things in a book called Astrology and Belief Today . It has never been published. Publishers prefer books on the astrology of cats, dogs and lovers and that situation suits the scientists well because they can continue to take pop shots at what looks more like party games than the Wisdom of the Magi. One day when the asteroids, Wisdom and Sophia hit somewhere meaningful, Truth may actually out. Meanwhile, alas censorship, suppression and even abuse rule.

CELEBRITY ASTEROID, POP STAR ANDROGYNY

2006-04-26T08:31:00.000+10:00

Madonna, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Boy George, Shakespeare. What have they got to do with an unknown asteroid? Asteroids would seem to be rocks in space, not much to see or do unless you can make astrological sense out of them. Which is worth the effort as they will certainly give it.

Example for doubters of the principle. Poor unwilling celebrity, Schapelle Corby, stuck in a Bali jail on conviction of drugs smuggling she claims with good reason (given what’s been discovered about Sydney airport) were planted on her, shows natal Saturn conjunct asteroid, Bali. Then again, Princess Diana who was determined to marry Prince Charles, is shown by an asteroid, Diana, in perfect opportunity sextile to Charles’ marriage angle but also in uncomfortable square to difficult Saturn. There were problems.

Last week I finally followed an invitation at HoroZscope on the Net to be first to make an astrological comment on asteroid, ASTROGEOS which has been languishing around unstudied and uncommented since discovered at 17 of Cancer on 21.1.1988.

I’m pasting below what I put to the relevant Net site but which may get a bit more exposure than it is likely to obtain there if recorded here too. Also I could have said a bit more than I stuck into the small box so I’m adding a few more celebrity details. This may not be a “censured topic” but it’s likely to be what’s much the same, an ignored one if people don’t refer to this kind of useful information and it’s a fact that even most astrologers don’t explore the asteroids. I wrote:

Androgyny Asteroid

Androgeos should be an important discovery for astrologers. This is definitely the asteroid that marks out androgyny issues and impulses.

Notice that at discovery time suitably the Sun is at the beginning of, the moon at the end of, and Mercury, an androgynous planet, towards the middle of Aquarius, the sign long associated with the alternative, the different and androgyny. Pluto is in Scorpio the sex sign bespeaking transformation of ideas and research in that area. Even the sign of balance, Libra, rises. Uranus, ruler of Aquarius, is conjunct Saturn in philosophical Sagittarius which may have something to do with grounding and clarifying what the difference factor Uranus is about and the difficulty of realizing it.

Anyway, start testing this asteroid and you will find it works. Shakespeare's sun is exact trine this asteroid from Virgo. He was noted for his ability to see into and through both sexes and point towards enlightened androgynous attitudes - an ability which in terms of the regular planets is involved with his moon in Libra and his Neptune/Venus conjunction in Gemini (words). Androgyny has a great deal to deal with the air signs but this asteroid will help highlight what they are doing in a chart more specifically.

Pop Star Androgyny

See the chart of Madonna. Androgeos is exact trine her Virgo moon from Capricorn, perhaps a rather commercial/pragmatic use of the androgyny impulse but it is present within her work and involved with her odd notion she's a gay male in a woman's body.

If some of us have the right time for the chart of Gay Lib in June 1969 then Androgeos is conjunct the Midheaven of that chart which could amount to an interesting comment.

Here are what certain celebrities notably show. Boy George has Androgeos conjunct in less than two degree with his showy and cosmetics conscious Venus in Taurus. David Bowie has Androgeos conjunct his Capricorn sun. While it isn’t the closest of conjunctions for an asteroid (17 degrees to the sun’s 21 degrees) not only are wider conjunctions allowed with sun or moon but Androgeos is at the same time in nearly perfect sextile opportunity aspect to his Jupiter so he can enact and enlarge the whole androgyny idea for stage and make financial success of it (Jupiter in second of finances).

Mick Jagger (who for born at 6.30 am with 4 degrees of Leo rising for the benefit of the many in astrology who don’t seem to know the fact) has Androgeos at 14 of Libra (probably the most androgynous of the signs) near enough conjunct to his IC base of chart angle (at 11 Libra) from where it’s within opportunity sextile both his first house Mercury at 11 Leo and his fated nodes at 16 Leo so that bodily (first house) he can project physically an androgyny which seems rooted in his being (base of chart).

All these examples from show biz do however seem to reflect a rather physical, material and staged version of androgyny as opposed to the more essential psychological kind linked to the spiritual and to Jung’s hermaphrodite archetype and which I think Shakespeare’s chart demonstrates.

Myth, Minos and Name

In myth Androgeos was the murdered son of King Minos whose death caused the king's requirement of the regular sacrifice of the youth of Athens in requital. One could argue that the connection to Minos links androgyny somewhat to wealth, to gold and some earthy principle as in the charts of those showbiz people who have made androgyny work for them, but the deeper meaning as in psychology and religion brings on risk and sacrifice. Bur really I am unable to trace something specifically related to andogyny in this myth. In this case it seems the name, as so often with the asteroids, will have to suffice as guide to what Androgeos is about and does. What’s in a name? Quite a lot really!

FREEDOM INDONESIAN STYLE (AND BELIEF ANGLICAN STYLE)

2006-04-13T19:57:00.000+10:00

While Australia under Howard is busily appeasing Indonesia over West Papuan boat people seeking asylum another story is going on that makes Indonesia only one notch below Afghanistan for toleration. We don’t hear about this tale as we did about Abdul because a death threat hung over his Christianity as opposed to just common garden persecution.

In Gunung Putri, West Java, at the end of last month a mob of around 200 descended upon the local Church of Pentecost protesting for five hours that the property was being “misused” because it was a church building. The mob was so threatening some women of the congregation went hysterical. The crowd only dispersed when finally it obtained agreement from the pastor to shut the doors of the church and effectively shut down the church altogether leaving the congregation nowhere to worship. The pastor was told that the church would have to be closed pending revision of a 1969 decree which dealt with church buildings requiring government approval.

The revision announced by the Religious Affairs Minister but still awaiting Presidential signature would require
1) at least 90 church members with official IDs
2) signatures from at least 60 neighbours of different faiths (i.e Islam) agreeing a church could be built/opened
3) Approval of local authorities.

Theoretically the constitution guarantees freedom of religion but Christians over recent years are familiar with obstruction which prevents their freedom of worship and the new decree would worsen the situation. It would become like other situations familiar from Egypt and elsewhere in the Muslim world where local authorities harass Christians, knock down new churches or prevent their construction with mobs aided by police and local authorities who override constitutional rights.

Any idea that Islam can be trusted for tolerance in any place where it gains a foothold or has a majority is foolishness. Ordinary Muslims may intend toleration but their leaders will often bully and ostracize them out of it. The church in Indonesia is in trouble like churches in virtually every Muslim country. Christians need to wake up and they need good leaders to defend specifically Christian rights and beliefs…..That's becoming an increasingly tall order.

Waffling Rowan Williams of the Anglican Muddle

The bankrupt quality of modern Church leadership is well reflected in Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams who having made a mess of the whole gay issue virtually reneging on his position and promises in that area is now virtually reneging on Christianity itself….. and I don’t mean because he's recently approved teaching atheism in English schools in RK.

I am referring to William’s as good as heretic’s speech ("Christian Identity and Religious Plurality") given in Brazil to the World Council of Churches last year which I have only just read. It is a long piece of clergy waffle about what Christians have to offer the world and if at all uniquely and exclusively. Williams believes Christians are exclusive in that they see everything in terms of Christ but otherwise

exclusivism is impossible… certainly the exclusivism of a system of ideas and conclusions that someone claims to be final and absolute. The place of Jesus is open to all who want to see what Christians see and to become what Christians are becoming. And no Christian believer has in his or her possession some kind of map of where exactly the boundaries of that place are to be fixed, or a key to lock others out or in.

Boundaries have their uses

No boundaries, no key? This itself is flat denial Christ gave any kind of “key” to Peter (as representative of Christians) as regards the kingdom of heaven or anything, and it ignores all idea that Christ as self declared Way is any Way leading anywhere. But Rowan Williams continues that Christians shouldn’t even have the question in our minds of how we might “convict others of error” or “win any competition of ideas” – surely we are talking about spiritual beliefs beyond mere “ideas” – we should only ask how we might see what others see and make it part of our own seeing. Christians should in short offer no proclamations but have a kind of convincing contagion in their own being which reflects that we and God are fundamentally at peace with the world. This is the outlook of someone whose life has been largely confined to the exploration of ideas in academe rather than the raw conflicts of life in diverse cultures!

Only last night I happened to see a news report on gruesome child sacrifices to goddess Kali in India. It is only because the British in India put a stop to such as thugee and suttee that a lot of these kind of horrors have been in recession and only now are making something of a comeback. Were Christians wrong to preach against much in Hinduism? Tradition has it St Thomas was martyr in India to worshippers of Kali his preaching offended.

Granted Kali and human sacrifice belongs to the extreme end of what used to be called “heathen darkness”. Even so, if Christianity is going to have mealy mouthed leaders like Williams determined to absorb the views of all faiths and cooperate with every diversity the unfortunate Christians of Indonesia won’t have the defenders they need (how many churches and church leaders are protesting their intolerable situation?) and as to any evangelical imperatives the church might have they will just get completely ignored. Islam however will suffer no such deferential hesitations in putting its views.

For more controversies seeRollan McCleary

JUDAS GOSPEL, BROWN GRAIL, GNOSTIC FOG

2006-04-08T14:24:00.000+10:00

It never rains but it pours and the Judas Gospel is finally released around the same time as Dan Brown is acquitted (yesterday the 7th) in London. And though Brown ought to be free of the particular charge of plagiarism, it frees his book and the upcoming film of The Da Vinci Code to give out, much like the Judas Gospel, its distortions. Both the Judas Gospel and Brown’s fiction represent a modern Gnosticism, private imaginings, interpretations and envisionings of facts, history and things spiritual. Their open door to a largely welcoming world is all part of what I’d long anticipated would be “the year of lies about Jesus”. And yes, despite appearances, it continues the old story of censorship, information suppression and one-sidedness I have been complaining about.

The Judas Gospel is presumably the one that in 180 Bishop Irenaeus was condemning as lies and which was probably composed about 150. It makes out that in effect Judas conspired with a willing Jesus to rid Jesus of a life in a (weak) body he didn’t even want, an act that would give Judas gnosis and power and Jesus himself release. The situation is instinct of the whole Gnostic worldview in which the body is a curse and only soul is real.

Ever since news of the release of this gospel was anticipated I have endeavoured to point out to various people in the press that my Signs for a Messiah has a completely original reading regarding Judas from existing texts. I have demonstrated something about him and the nature of his betrayal that so far no commentator has done, and besides being a published author I am a doctor of religious studies with supposedly some authority to speak on such matters. Much help it has been in getting me heard on what I feel needs to be said about Judas or much else at this time.

The Gnostic Fog

Not that as opposed to what I am claiming from canonical texts the new Gnostic material is giving us history - nobody is really claiming that. Unfortunately however the effect, exactly like Dan Brown’s fiction, is to leave the general public unfamiliar with scholarly and historical issues in the area with the impression that since a variety of views must have once existed, nothing certain can ever be known today. It’s not so much lies about Jesus (though these are present) as a Gnostic fog being put around him. The same effect will derive from Michael Baigent’s The Jesus Papers, most of it a re-cycling for profit of his Holy Blood, Holy Grail thesis and published by HarperCollins (who else seeing they are chief milkers of every heresy?) in advance of The Da Vinci Code film premiere. He suggests we have probably been misinformed about almost everything around Jesus and Christianity is the biggest cover up of history.

Deadly and Contentious Aspects

I don’t know exactly when the Judas Gospel was released in America and it’s not necessary to know it exactly to have a general idea from the astrological standpoint but it would probably have been sometime on the 6th as it was on the news here in Australia by the evening of the 7th. What is interesting is that contentious Mars in Gemini (sign of Christianity) was contentiously, aggressively close to exact opposition to a Pluto itself near enough conjunct the Galactic Centre (events in religion) in Sagittarius. (25 opposite to 26). Importantly, Mercury (any news and in effect any gospel because it means “good news”) was conjunct the Saturn rather than the Jupiter (truth) of the era conjunction of Jesus’ birth. It was also inconjunct the Saturn of the day. Tradition has always had it that Judas was a Piscean and the late seeress, Jeane Dixon, even alleged on revelation this was the case. Whatever, Judas’ sun or some planet would surely need to have been conjunct Jesus’ Saturn for the possibility of such extreme betrayal to have taken place. So on the 6th and 7th with Venus just entered the sign of Pisces and Mercury conjunct Jesus’ Saturn would be a suitable time to be hearing about the traitor. These facts have besides to be assessed against the root fact that Neptune by transit is, according to my claims in the matter, currently nearly conjunct the Midheaven of Christ’s birth chart inviting precisely the fog around Jesus’ status and reputation.

An important premiere

Brown’s win means the premiere of The Da Vinci Code will go ahead rather as between reports on the trial and the aspects I assumed it would (Brown’s natal Jupiter (natally opposite Neptune) is presently being conjuncted. In other words Brown has a Jupiter return – how could he not be freed to export his afflicted Neptune distortions?! This means that everything I have written about the pattern of the premiere, the status of Magdalena, Leonardo etc for May 19th will stand and will apply. I hardly imagined anything so descriptive could fail to do so, it was in itself a sign the trial would have to be won on Brown’s behalf.

Information about the premiere and Brown’s revealing data will be published in Horoscope Magazine’s biannual edition for June but released in May and likely in time for the premiere. This will offer something astrological at its most topical and precise. This feature will be out in Australia and N Zealand and that’s good but it won’t be out in America, the home from which book and film and Brown himself emanate which is not so good. It is however a minor restriction compared with not being able to discuss the character of Judas from the point of view of scholarship at this time. Gnostics have very much overtaken the information field. It is disagreeable to see the first of the Gnostic popularizers, Elaine Pagels, who has in effect rejected Christianity, assuring the cameras and as though representing the religion itself, that the Gospel of Judas is a potential Christian lesson for us all in forgiveness and love. Perhaps we had all better get into the work of betrayal to improve ourselves!.... Or perhaps in lending credence and support to the new Gnostic trends that’s what we’re anyway doing.

Rollan McCleary

BOB GELDOF'S BOBSWORTH ON OZ

2006-04-04T09:03:00.000+10:00

Well somebody had to say it and I was glad it was Sir Bob said it because almost anyone else would be told, “if you don’t like us don’t come here” - in short censored out and censored issues interest me. But in interview for The Australian last weekend he said, having remarked he would almost prefer to be able to live in Oz than anywhere, that however….

“You take the tall poppy thing which began in Ireland to stratospheric levels – which is silly ‘cause it stems from an inferiority complex. Ireland’s got over it. Australia needs to do the same”.

It does. It is little short of a sickness infecting everywhere from the kind of work kids put into school (they mustn’t seem too clever at anything) to the work of leading politicians don’t put in (lest they seem too statesmanlike and commanding). If there's some crisis in industry Oz usually needs to import someone from overseas, some Brit, some Yank to sort the problem out because they are more likely to cut through the mess and command the situation and be less resented for it, because how could an Australian tell an Australian what to do?

Is this inferiority complex or is it inverted pride? Whatever it is more broadly the attitude works against the arts, against culture, against the life of the intellect (the only really acceptable form of excellence is in sports) and even the spiritual life (one doesn’t have enough respect for transcendence, for God as being the Man Upstairs) and one is permitted to be rude about anything or to anyone.

If you never believed in elitism and privilege come to this country and you might just change your mind a little and give some thought to why a leading Socialist like G.B.Shaw believed even Socialism could and should use a degree of elitism. Privilege does somewhat exist here in the English style through a network of good schools and special clubs/societies but egalitarianism, praised as a national virtue, chokes efficiency and brings essential issues to a standstill as in a traffic jam, or a smog.

Apart from being like Geldof an Irish citizen (though I’m an Australian citizen too) I am also a published author, and academically a doctor which represents a lot of work and slog which ought to garner a little respect over time. Try contacting media, or ringing the press whether on behalf of yourself or others (recently I’ve tried it on behalf of the scandal of legal issues with all sorts of social implications that an Australian artist is involved in) and it’s nearly impossible to draw attention to yourself and any issue however important. You are dismissed or told to wait endlessly or write out information you are not thanked for or contacted about. Why?

Well, basically because Australia’s press, media or whatever is so busy up to the eyebrows being egalitarian they can’t deal with you (plus the niceties of explanation or apology can’t be wasted on individuals either). It means that if Mrs Bloggins has lost her canary and wants to take up radio time complaining about it even if it’s clearly her own fault she is as important and more important than you are and you can just wait or go away because we have to hear the whole line of all those other people like Mrs Bloggins because qualifications or no who do you think you are? Understand you’re a nobody, mate.

I fancy I shall live to tell the tell of the shocking treatment I have received here as a writer for major material regarding Christ that in America would likely have put me to the front of the queue for attention - if in this very special case it is myself that does matter. I regret to say that Australia would be prime contenders for giving Jesus “no room at the inn” treatment and because they no longer know how to appreciate the special, the serious, or the sacred. Let Bob Geldof actually live here and he will either find out some unpalatable truths about the place he most wants to be in, or he might just be the outspoken and Irish person needed to correct the aggressively uncorrectable Aussie manners.

For some other censored issues see my website at Rollan McCleary

RABBI BATZRI'S MESSIANIC ECLIPSE

2006-03-29T11:09:00.000+11:00

I’m trying to get my head round this one. Today’s eclipse (at 8.35 degrees of Aries) according to a leading (Kabbalistic) Rabbi in Israel, David Batzri, is the eclipse that heralds the beginning of the rise of the Messiah King. I'm seriously wondering why he thinks so and if anything of interest and note is signified for Israel and just possibly the Church (given that a new Messiah if he emerged could be seen as Christianity’s false Messiah/Antichrist figure).

More than just an election, perhaps

OK, so in traditional Jewish astrology (which usually set more store by lunar than solar eclipses ) the moon was the Messiah. At the time of this eclipse transiting Saturn is right conjunct the moon of Israel’s 1948 foundation in its 10th house of leadership. Saturn in the 10th is often about changes of leadership, deaths and resignations of leaders to give rise to the new. And of course we know Israel is having an election (which it really shouldn’t give itself in the shadow of an eclipse but let it go over first). It’s also true that Israel’s conjuncted moon is in Leo, sign of royalty. One has to assume that Israel’s 10th house with Moon, Mars and Pluto and destiny Midheaven all in Leo is somewhat involved with the nation's historic claims, the Davidic inheritance and the desires of some Israelis for the increasingly talked about monarchy. (The Leo emphasis otherwise just insures Israel is prominent and heard about on the world “stage”).

But the eclipse itself is in Aries in Israel's 6th house of work and health which hardly seems too important unless one cares to say the first emergence of the Messiah (any time now over the next year from this eclipse) is about purification and initiation (lesser stressed 6th house issues). At the more ordinary level Israel has just reported the avian flu. This could perhaps spread.

I can’t see great significance in the degree in that this eclipse makes no exact aspect by degree anywhere. It is making a trine to the midpoint of the natal 10th house moon and Pluto which is potentially a bit dramatic; but typically at least Jewish astrology, like Hindu astrology, doesn’t use the outer planets and hence Pluto. Failing to do so may be to miss an important point in this case.

Holy and not so holy signs

The eclipse is near enough (to two degrees) opposing Israel’s national Neptune in the 12th. This is challenging to the national dream, mysticism and, yes, notions of Messiah which I believe are more involved with Neptune than the moon of traditional Jewish astrology. So the message here could be more like the challenge of false messianic dreams and a false emergence. Neptune is notoriously slippery and deceptive. One really needs a favourable aspect to bring it out well and avoid the deceptions. More practically since Olmert may win (as the Rabbi predicts) and may give away more lands (which the Rabbi says he mustn’t do), perhaps the highlighting of Neptune in the 12th of mysticism but also material loss, bespeaks sacrifice of lands. Again, from the sixth of health to a Neptune in the 12th of confinement there could be a bit more message about problems around such as avian flu or even water supply or contamination.

This apart, the eclipse squares (i.e.afflicts) the national Venus within 4 degrees. Venus is linked to cash flow (the economy may not do so well and is already in trouble) but it is also in the 9th affecting religious affairs, so tensions could grow over that – tensions between conservatives and liberals are increasing and over Messianic claims or Temple rebuilding obviously they could explode. And this much we must take into account.

Israel was founded with Jupiter the religion planet conjunct the Galactic Centre (events in religion). Although Pluto, the strongest planet, the God planet (in my opinion) has not yet made exact conjunction with that point which it does later this year and next, its conjunction with the national Jupiter can be expected to stir events in religion in Israel and further afield. It is already virtually conjunct now and at the time of this eclipse. As said, the Rabbi probably isn’t considering Pluto and I’m not sure what he’s considering and why (if anyone has any suggestions please tell me) but the attention he is drawing is not something we can entirely dismiss. As regards Christianity on which I shan’t speculate today, I note the same Saturn that conjuncts Israel’s Moon exactly conjuncts Pentecost’s rising Uranus. Plainly the eclipse is relevant, the questions is just how much. Meanwhile…..

Australia and the Eclipse
Over in Australia a category five Cyclone Glenda could hit NW Australia tonight or tomorrow – in other words close on the eclipse. I was right to say I doubted Cyclone Wati would do much following Larry's hit, but I take it as potentially more serious that this cyclone is arriving on cue for an eclipse that is square Australia’s sun. Even if it doesn’t do too much damage because it may hopefully come in over little populated areas, the mere fact that it arrives on an eclipse basically negative for Australia carries a symbolic message. The period covered by it (the next year from now) could well be rather ravaged by effects of climate which will be one of the ways the negativity of the period will be manifesting.

Note for Israel I use the 4.37pm chart for the end of the Independence broadcast on 14th May 1948 rather than the 4pm for its beginning. The 0 Scorpio ascendant and Pluto (the God planet) as ruler of the chart seems to work better both symbolically and historically for Israel than Libra rising). For Australia I use the 1pm beginning of the Independence Ceremony on Jan 1st 1901 rather than the end and so 22 of Aries rises).

RICK WARREN’S PURPOSE DRIVEN BEST SELLER.

2006-03-26T09:32:00.000+11:00

Because I couldn’t buy what I wanted in a shop the other day I finally got round to reading Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life. This is such a religious bestseller it has sold half of Dan Brown’s record making 40 million. According to such evangelical gurus as Billy Graham the book is a spiritual classic. Is it?

It’s certainly a different kind of book, important in its way. It's a sort of Christian alternative to offerings like Deepak Chopra’s How to Know God, which is a super popular work by another Aquarian writing on the edge of the Aquarian era. While I’m too European to be happy with something which so Californianly assures you you will be changed and all in 40 days by reading this course of thought (which you are even meant to sign a covenant to get through! Help!) the book still has significance and it’s worthwhile reading chapters, at random if need be. You really don’t have to read it in any order or over 40 days to obtain something from it.

What it’s got, and for many people invaluably so, is some much needed lessons of spiritual intentionality along with some of the psychology so often lacking in modern religious (especially Christian) texts which can seem old fashioned compared to even some quite silly New Age material which has it. As to a major idea underlying the book Iris Murdoch memorably set out the purely philosophical case for recourse to attention and intentionality in her virtuoso, Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals in 1993.

New style spiritual direction for everyone

For too long Christians, (and TPDL is written for believers of all shades within the religion though with an evangelical bias)have seriously lacked the “attitudes” and “purposes” stressed by the book. Faith is not presented as any total psychology cum worldview in the way especially Buddhists would perceive and enact their religion. Christians aren't taught adequate methods of self examination or techniques for coping with difficulties - unless via endless guilt trips or overblown positive thought theories linked to prosperity and work success programmes which the book exceptionally for American religion rejects. Christians mostly don’t have the dimension of contemplative prayer that the book comes close to recommending. What most Christians have is impersonal and random and if the Sunday sermon can’t provide them a few clues to life there aren’t any. This book therefore is practical and overcomes a big gap - even if to the alarm of especially conservative Christians. They dislike what's special about the book, the emphasis on psychology, the ecumenism of approach, the emphasis on special prayers and the alleged lack of emphasis on repentance (surely inevitable in a book not aimed at making converts) and they find the biblical citations strained and translated to suit the author (which is occasionally but not usually the case).

The book does well in some areas, less well in others. The main thing is it tries to give real answers and the attempt has appeal to the many wanting spiritual direction. Of course one must be unhappy with lapses into the kind of near medieval thinking that for example maintains (as some evangelicals do) that any weakness, any sin is Satan himself working directly on you. People who imagine this are often suppressing a hidden egoism (one is so important in the cosmic battle that the devil has to follow you around wherever you go!) and/or giving too much credit to the Prince of Darkness who, while I don’t say he doesn’t exist, isn’t breathing down a person’s neck every time they tell a lie or whatever. The general evil of a fallen world (which isn’t practicing intentionality!) or at worst perhaps the devil’s minions, fallen spirits, can easily enough see to it that evil occurs.

The same overblown belief decides that God has determined everything that has happened to and for you (such as how you look even if it’s ugly) which I think is a serious error to plant in people’s minds and about as fatalistic as bad karma notions in New Age writing. Surely it’s a case that the general laws of a fallen nature prevail but that, as St Paul has it, God is able to bring good out of evil in the long run so to that extent things are in “God’s will” as events which are allowed.

Intention, women and gays

On an everyday basis beliefs that God determines and can cure everything that occurs potentially make for the kind of religious tyrannies in society whose consequences the book’s enthusiasms conveniently disregard in their onrush. It's the kind of position which will declare a woman can’t have an abortion even for incest or rape because somehow God, rather than we, can set the situation to rights in his perfect will. In the same way gays must be reorientated because it’s not possible they were born the way they maintain. (I gather that while Warren has been influential among evangelicals in promoting assistance to gays with AIDS and condemning church failure to get involved at the same time and while declining to call homosexuality “evil” to satisfy the conservatives, he calls it “unnatural”). So, just as I imagined from my rapid reading could be the case, confusion and controversy attaches to the Warren worldview here.

There are anyway contradictions in the book. At one point we’re told not to look within but to look solely to God for guidance for our purposes because “surrender” is of the essence of the religious life (which it doubtless sometimes is, though as Islam means “submission” one cringes at any too easily promoted notions of surrender today). But elsewhere we’re told to follow where our heart goes because where enthusiasm is is where our talents and vocations are likely to be located.

The problem of being individual

The fact is that, amid helpful hints and insights and despite the quasi-militaristic evangelical standards which manage to allow some degree of openness to individualism, the book still keeps considerably close to one-size-fits-all accounts of personality and spirituality that might do for Islam as easily as Christianity. Once again if one is aware of astrology and what it can reveal including about the spiritual life one will be pained by the continuing, unnecessary limitations of this Christian approach at some points. One of the biggest problems for advisers is always why God appears to be speaking to some and others little or not at all. Astrologers know this has something to do with solar and lunar aspects in a natal pattern.

If the sun is strong and well aspected the person is so linked to the unconscious they have little difficulty centring and so hearing or speaking the divine. If the moon is more aspected the divine is mostly or always indirectly conveyed through nature or ritual. If sun or moon are afflicted the messages cannot get through properly or get seriously mixed. Planets like Saturn in the 9th of religion or 12th house of the mystical and unconscious can place serious blocks upon faith and the ability to receive anything. Fortunately Warren affirms that not all apparent absence/silence of God is due to sin. It isn’t; it may well be fundamental lack of gift and may therefore never be dramatically overcome. Spiritual direction has to recognize this and not over promise as Warren sometimes seems to do. However…. If one can take the book with a pinch of salt and see it as a product among other things of certain American organizational attitudes then it is ground breaking and useful in its way.

The Astrology of Rick Warren’s Success and Appeal

Rick Warren is an Aquarian (28th Jan 1954) with Sun and Venus closely conjunct (connection, popularity and financial success) albeit these planets are closely squared by Saturn. However, that means hard work and the self made man (America has sun square Saturn). Jupiter (religion/publishing) is in Warren’s communicating Gemini which helps. But here are the clinchers. Powerful Pluto the God planet at 24 Leo is fortunately trining to the exact degree the destiny reputation Midheaven of the chart of Christianity while the fated nodes closely conjunct Pentecost’s Neptune. And Warren’s own Neptune is powerfully stationary opposite the Venus of the Pentecost pattern, Venus being at once its most elevated planet and ruler of its fourth of endings. I suspect some Christians if they accepted astrology might say that Warren’s role is to supply the church its wake-up call and preparation manual for its last Pentecost.

Apparently this bestseller was launched some time in September 02. That’s likely to be correct. Both as a publishing event and as something promoting purpose and meaning we look to Jupiter. It was in Leo (right opposite the author’s natal Sun/Venus and opposite Neptune in the skies at the time, a big money, bestseller promise!) so not surprisingly with this Jupiter “meaning” and “purpose” comes Leo style big time and perhaps with a touch of the egoism I mentioned which is determined to make everything important, dramatically. But beyond this we see that Saturn was opposite and Uranus (in Warren’s own sign of Aquarius) in opportunity sextile to the Galactic Centre – events in religion. And surely just this describes the book. It’s an event, in some respects a conservative (Saturn) one but in some ways a very modern, groundbreaking (Uranus) one. The combination can be challenging and classic. I fancy that sun in Virgo adds to the practical quality of the work. But the real clincher was the Uranus in Aquarius of September 02. It was opposite the moon conjunct Church of Pentecost. Due to affect millions in many countries TPDL emerged as a shock/challenge to the worldwide Church

This then is a book as a bit of an Aquarian shock and surprise - like Warren himself. I need hardly state that I just had to buy it by accident, un - intentionally you might say, with Venus conjunct his Sun/Venus in Aquarius. Ah well…. one day the Christians may believe me.

Visit my web page for other censored issues: www.rollanmccleary.com

ABDUL RAHMAN'S CONVERSION PROBLEM

2006-03-25T20:46:00.000+11:00

Everyone is now at loggerheads over this one and for the implications much is at stake. There are Afghan lawyers suggesting Christian convert, Adbul, can be declared insane (a way of getting him off). But he is perfectly sane according to conservative clerics like Abdul Raoulf and must be hung because he has “insulted” and “humiliated" God, or, according to another fanatic cleric because if he were to be pardoned and sent into exile others would claim to be Christian just to get out of the country. (One can imagine there are people would like to leave the country!) Of course, nobody is telling the Islamic clerics the God they think is so “insulted” might be more offended at their own hypocrisy that has never really done anything to stop a drug trade that has been the death of so many worldwide!

President Bush and Condeleezza Rice want the issue sorted out and fast (there’s inevitable Christian pressure in their country on them to do so - the situation is poor pay back to America for helping oust the Taliban). President Karzai of Afghanistan is supposed to have given assurances Abdul will be let off. The President of Canada retains fears about whether he actually will be; and reasonably enough with some clerics charitably saying they will appeal to the people “to tear Abdul to bits” if he is pardoned. Meanwhile three more Christians have been turned over the authorities by kindly friends and relations.

Freedom of Choice

Clearly this is a country that doesn’t love or understand freedom as Christians and many in the West, Christian and others, understand it - namely something based in actual democratic freedom of choice. To be born Muslim is to be Muslim for life or else your life is forfeit! Afghanistan isn’t just a country without Christian influence, it has lost the whole legacy of democratic Greece it once had.

Whatever happens this should be a wake up call for those of the dialogue-not-conversion party within Christianity finally to realize the world is not all sweet talk around the religion topic and that regular Islam does have agendas they have not been prepared sufficiently to take into account.

Shades of the Gospels and being “authentic”

Abdul’s situation takes us right back to the world of the gospels in which it is promised that families will turn against their own. Which is just what has happened here – it is Abdul’s own relatives that have betrayed him to authorities. They regard their relative’s situation as “crime” against them. They presume to feel shamed by him. But just this kind of reaction and its implications is one of the reasons why the Christian doctrine of conversion, ditched and ignored by so many Christians today, is so relevant and even necessary. At one level you can say conversion is all about salvation. But let’s be clear that at another level and in many situations it's an invitation to realize human authenticity.

To say that all Christians need do is engage mutual respect with other religions is to miss the point that very often what declining to extend the offer of a choice of different belief amounts to is acquiescing in oppressive traditionalism and tribalism where nothing can be questioned. The individual is expected to believe, say and do whatever is given and whatever pleases the arbitrary pride of those who hold the reigns of authority.

It is of course not really God who is being “humiliated” by the conversion of a single person in Afghanistan, such claims are merely the projected outrage of absolute authoritarianism upon earth. Its tyranny is why honesty requires that, as the gospels have it, we must not prefer even those closest to us to the higher truth of our choices for Christ (who it is claimed represents Truth). If we reject choice, if we merely accept whatever is handed to us unquestioned (even if it is Christian doctrine) we cannot arrive at authenticity as individuals. We risk worshipping not God, if we believe in God, but mere tradition and our convenience under the guise of virtue and spirituality.

In short Abdul’s conversion problem challenges us all and is somewhat ours.

THE AUSTRALIAN CYCLONE and WHAT'S NEXT

2006-03-21T19:07:00.000+11:00

While I won’t take credit for forecasting the Australian cyclone – I hadn’t even been looking at Australia’s astrology for a while, not even for its Commonwealth Games which might have given me the needed clue – it’s pretty clear now that the disaster's happened what’s involved. I need only mention two obvious points.

Mars is a major trigger of action. It has hit right on the national Pluto, ruler of Australia's 8th house of shared resources and mortality at 16 Gemini. The nation can be very thankful only a lot of its crops and buildings have been destroyed, not lives. There will be ongoing economic consequences. Pluto is in the second of the national wealth and Australia has been badly hit in one of its most fertile areas.

Uranus meanwhile was opposite the national Mars at 11 Virgo from 11 Pisces. Uranus is the shocks, the surprises, the accidents. Hurricane Katrina descended upon America with Uranus in affliction square to the national Uranus. One always needs to beware of sudden Uranian shocks!

It is because at one level Mars is anything to do with competition and athletics that the two aspects just mentioned correspond to all the excitement around the Commonwealth Games. It’s just that this time round what simultaneously transiting Mars has fallen on and the national Mars has fallen under are so heavy that Australia has had rather more than just the Commonwealth Games to enjoy; it has had a disaster to distract from them. Remember too that Mars rules the chart of Australia (because Aries rises) so Mars linked events really count.

If only because Mars is going away from the national Pluto I am reasonably hopeful that Cyclone Wati will not develop into anything too drastic, certainly less drastic if it hits. However…..

Overall I think Australia is entering a difficult period. I give a few points suggestive of this.

AUSTRALIA'S DIFFICULT TIMES

On 29th Mars an eclipse at 8+ of Aries is going to hit in the 12th house (potential loss) square the national Sun/Saturn conjunction. I hope it only means the national leadership will be shaken up in the way especially factors to a national sun usually mean. Especially those in power and born under Leo like Prime Minister Howard and Treasurer Costello could be influenced by Saturn which is currently in their sign. However.....with such as

a) Uranus due to square the national Uranus during May, June and July this year (recall the Katrina aspect) and

b) late this year and during next year powerful and sometimes deadly Pluto opposing Neptune (anything to do with the waters and potentially floods) and

c) with Saturn due to square the national Moon in the first sector of the people in September, these and other factors are a bit grave.

Together they look like reasons to fear that conditions for homes, property, weather, economy and life in general could be a bit tougher than usual. Laid back Australian attitudes had better be laid aside in order to cope with some harsh realities that could well put the good times on the back burner. It's not the time for complacency.

I do think other things could be happening more positively and spiritually but I won’t go into that now, as I think it’s a subject in its own right deserving its own space in due time...

PIETY OR PRIDE in AFGHANISTAN?

2006-03-21T08:39:00.000+11:00

Visit my web page for other censored issues: Rollan McCleary

Abdul Rahman a convert of 16 years to Christianity is in danger of death under Sharia Law in Afghanistan, his family having reported against him. World media so far is not exactly shouting aloud the intolerable situation though report has made it to the Washington Times.

Supreme Court judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada meaninglessly and illogically told Associated Press: "We are not against any particular religion in the world. But in Afghanistan, this sort of thing is against the law," "It is an attack on Islam. ... The prosecutor is asking for the death penalty."

It is a mighty insecure religion and an incredibly insular culture and law that in a country where 99 per cent of the population is Muslim and most of the rest Hindu, perceives itself as under “attack” because one individual turns Christian! More like the local population feels it has lost face, in short its pride is under attack! As to what the laws might be representing and defending in such an isolated case bullying under the guise of piety might be another way of putting it! The situation in “modern” Afghanistan sounds much akin to that of the medieval Inquisition in Europe where greedy people and relatives could accuse individuals of false ideas to obtain their lands and get away with it.

This is the first charge of its kind since the Taliban was ousted, something most of the population are supposed to have wanted whether or not they wanted specifically American intervention to achieve it. But if this is all the effect, all the democracy western involvement upon Afghan society has managed to have, it might as well not have been there. Nothing substantial has been changed or learned.

AGENDAS UNADMITTED

2006-03-20T18:15:00.000+11:00

Visit my web page for more censored issues: Rollan McCleary

Debate continues in Saskatchewan about the Jesus cartoon. Apparently those who withheld the Mohammed cartoons but published the Jesus cartoon felt this was justified on political grounds. In other words to offend people on political grounds is not OK but on religious grounds doesn’t matter - or in real terms if something will stop people getting violent it’s justified to censor but if you can hurt the feelings of those who you know won’t be violent it doesn’t matter….

So meanwhile and while press and politicians are willing to criticize mercilessly anyone like the Australian politician who recently suggested Muslims have any agenda for population or whatever, “agenda” has been openly expressed in liberal/permissive Norway which has finally decided it has a problem somewhere. It is seeking to deport the person responsible, a refugee to the country since the early nineties.

Last week the Mullah Krekar has cheerfully told an Oslo paper, Dagbladet there is a war between the West and Islam which Islam will win, that the Muslim way of thought will prove more powerful than the western variety and that he looks forward to a few decades when 30 per cent of Europe will be Muslim. He deplores the western way of thinking and believes that Osama bin Ladin is a good person and that fighting for western “democracy” against such a person is only an excuse to be fighting Islam and reflects fear of the Islamic state.

In two points he’s correct, namely that Christianity has been changed by “materialism, egoism and wildness”. He’s also right that the Islamic thought mode is “stronger” than the western. I'd say it was so for two reasons.

The Moderate Muslim’s problem

If any group enters foreign countries and as in the Cartoons crisis goes beyond the accepted norms of protest reaching into violence in defence of its values then that is certainly challenging and national policies based on mere appeasement won’t readily cope with it. Anyone can take advantage and act the proverbial bull in the china shop if allowed. However while this is how things may appear to the silent majority whom press and politicians aren’t reflecting the problem may still not chiefly reside there and anyway appeasement policies may eventually break down from exhaustion.

The real problem as with Kreker is more about individual Mullahs and/or who’s at the top of the immigrant society. No doubt as we always hear there are moderate Muslims and perhaps even most Muslims are precisely that (most people everywhere prefer peace) and yes, there are elements within The Koran supportive of attitudes and policies of peace to be set against those sections that might appear to support rather different attitudes and policies.

The problem is what kind of support exists for Moderates once the leaders adopt aggressive views within a socio-religious system based on tight-knit relations and the total ostracism of dissenters with even execution for those deemed apostates. Moderate minds have got to become very radical to resist the inbuilt pressures and most won’t become that. So fear takes over and with it bullying by leaders is facilitated. And while most mainstream Muslims don’t have any particular “agenda”, there are religious leaders who do.

Kreker is arguably merely more vocal and less tactful about what has often been the true beliefs of those with influence, namely that where you enter you reckon to change that society and because the religion is a very political one which stakes a claim is to bring the whole world to submission to Allah. A moderate Mullah (such exist) may however be one who prefers to take his time instead of plunging followers into merely reckless action. Yet virtually everywhere there is a Muslim majority in a nation the rights of all others groups are under threat or seriously curtailed, even extremely to the point as in Saudi Arabia there is no freedom of religion at all, even for private worship. Attacks upon non Muslims recently from Nigeria to Pakistan tell the story which for practical purposes is the real one: a will to have the upper hand and win the supposed “war” that Kreker openly refers to. Norway has been right to be concerned and so should we be.

LONDON AND PROPHECY RIGHT AND WRONG

2006-03-12T19:37:00.000+11:00

Visit my web page for more censored issues: Rollan McCleary

It’s happened again, an old story one can’t correct or tell those concerned about. One of the would-be Christian prophets (there are increasing numbers today justified by the idea these have to be the End Times) who said London and surrounding areas would be flooded in early March with much damage and even loss of life. He has been proved wrong. Just as were a couple of Jewish Christian prophets who sent dire warnings in all directions over the Net about disasters in America on Jan 23rd.

It would be easy to say that prophecy means nothing so prophets must get it wrong and dismiss the whole thing as joke and fraud. But wait a minute! The problem, at least for me as an astrologer and who knows these prophets will abominate astrology and aren’t using it, is that in both instances they quite accurately timed something that looked dangerous.

On Jan 23rd, Uranus, an important planet for the American natal pattern had returned to be dangerously square the national Uranus as at the Katrina disaster. And in the early days of this month transiting Jupiter, the expansion planet, was stationed on Neptune (the waters, hence with Jupiter conjuncting it a potential for floods) in the natal pattern for Britain. And that’s a pattern said to be truly sensitive and accurate. I would presume it is because, for example, I discovered only last week that asteroid, Shakespeare, conjuncts its fifth house cusp (anything to do with theatres and dramas) and trines its moon (which affects national consciousness). I am referring to the standard chart of 1066 (for the coronation of William the Conqueror).

WHEN PRAYER MAY NOT BE THE ANSWER

No matter nothing happened will say those negligible numbers of Christians who believe astrology can or should register anything. It was their prayers - these had been widely requested - prevented the prophesied disasters! I don’t think so. The function of true prophecy directed at peoples and nations is not normally to offer Jonah at Nineveh type forecasts that can be undone in the way more possible in the case of advised and warned individuals. Political prophecy was always understood to function as a sign that God is in control and foreknows and accordingly exact fulfilment should generate faith and better collective action in the long run. So prophets of national issues have to get it right or we are not even meant to listen to them further…. though of course people do, including the same believers who would consider it sin itself to be listening to any astrologer!

The fact is that those recent “prophecies” weren’t really on line for fulfilment because on closer examination any astrologer could see that dangerous though the pattern appeared the real potential wasn’t there in various necessary supporting factors like especially Mars which gear outer planet signs like Uranus and Neptune into action. So what have the “prophets” done?

It looks as though, like picking up air waves, these prophets pick up on what’s going on archetypally – because the planets function in some archetypal symbolic realm – but no more. They are, as it were, psychics/visionaries of the planetary realm but they don’t know the rules of that realm and how to apply them. Granted, you can argue if you like that Beelzebub’s minions have tricked them to bring all prophecy today into disrepute at a time we badly need real prophets. Maybe so, maybe not. But all we can certainly see is their forecasting appears to be not necessarily totally blind but corresponds to something, but not enough. So…

BRITAINS’ PROBLEMS AND PUTTING PROPHECY AND ASTROLOGY TOGETHER

Arguably prophecy, even the most “inspired”, often needs to work together with astrology just as the Magi timed and grounded the ancient Messianic prophecies. But that’s precisely a cooperation that those Christians most likely to believe in prophecy are most likely to oppose. And this could be a terrible loss. Because perhaps…. some of what they are receiving is actually true but just needs some focussing. Consider….

Although one prophet of London’s future (Victor Lorenzo) had ventured a specific time frame, a whole group of prophets hadn’t but still believe God has shown them London will fairly soon suffer. This is just possible.

As only one thing the Aries eclipse at the end of this month is undeniably in square affliction to the sun of both the two commonly used 1066 and 1801 charts for Britain and the base angle (the IC) of the 1066 chart (which has to reflect affairs relating to property, land and weather conditions) and from the 12th house of loss. Affliction to this angle could mean other things with less stress such as family policy; but if people are already prophesying floods and loss then that is plausible as this sector of the chart needs to be indicated for such troubles.

Anything from April onwards over the next year is therefore game for trouble because eclipses introduce a theme and then you only need the transits to set things off. And there are some factors that could do this, perhaps especially in the northern autumn with another eclipse and the national moon in watery Pisces afflicted by exact opposition. This moon is in the 12th house of loss and traditionally the moon ruled floods rather than Neptune. Neptune however plays its part and Britain’s Neptune has got to be squared by Saturn this autumn and it will be squared by transiting Neptune this year and next.

I am not William Lilly, the author of Christian Astrology who forecast the Great Fire of London. I am not even familiar with the British charts across history, have scarcely studied how they work for disasters or anything more average, but I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea if astrologers started examining them in light of what we are hearing. It looks to me as though the UK could indeed be in for upsets from such as floods and other things over the next year from this April. It may be relevant and worth testing ( the asteroids are too often ignored and untested) that in the standard 1066 chart

Asteroid London is at 16 Aries conjunct the national Mercury
Asteroid Flood is at 11 Aquarius

So far as I can see, prophecy and prophets are frequently wrong for timing even when they get the event right – a good example would be the late Jeane Dixon who foresaw events like the fall of the Shah of Iran but wildly out in terms of the year.

So let’s not write off supposedly divine prophecy but let’s examine it carefully and hope that the self described prophets may find a bit more sense and humility (the one who gave London a time frame with the familiar dismissiveness of firm believers didn’t even bother to acknowledge my message suggesting we might discuss some things) in relation to what via “the divine science” might be able to help focus and evaluate their claims in difficult areas.

STATING THE CASE

2006-03-09T12:56:00.000+11:00

Censorship

Censorship exists and sometimes those most protesting it help keep it going. Awareness of the true situation gets displaced by focussing on one or two areas, (usually the pornographic in film or the ultra realistic in literature) that don’t greatly affect average rights and freedom of expression. But censorship of much that matters to life is fundamental and everywhere in “free” societies. As a modern philosopher Foucault, insisted, Power is distributed. It’s not just in government and doesn’t just apply to sex.

Media, the press, publishing, conservative religionists and their secular opponents can all display incredible prejudices and use techniques of manipulation to screen out what they don’t want treated.

My blog concentrates on three areas of information suppression I have long noticed and almost always been denied all voice and opportunity as a writer and doctor in religious studies to help in any wise rectify, by speaking or writing..

Religion.
Only types of beliefs are considered by media and entire subjects like the persecution of Christians from Sudan to Vietnam and in Muslim societies goes unreported or not called what it is.

Astrology.
Almost a forbidden subject to academics and despite the Magi visiting Christ too often a taboo subject for many Christians rejected as “divination”. Much that can be known about Christ and Christianity is being suppressed because of refusal to examine aspects of this issue. The astrological establishment, largely neo-pagan is in its own way repressive and a block to getting out important information in ways to be described..

Gay Issues.
Many of these are as taboo with gays as straights. I have for example not been able to pursue the study of gay ethics in Australia nor engage any debate in regular outlets like magazines about it. Gays through their PR concerns risk becoming major manufacturers of censorship.

Here are examples from recent events and my experience that relate to these subjects.

RELIGION

A scandal from Canada. Saskatchewan University’s student newspaper The Sheaf has published a cartoon (March 2nd) depicting Jesus performing fellatio on a pig. The caption reads "Go on, it's ok, it's kosher if you don't swallow". The decision to publish the "Capitalist Piglet" cartoon comes after the same newspaper refused out of respect for Islam to print the cartoons mocking Mohammed. Local radio has taken it up suggesting students could take the case to the Human Rights Commission ( who will doubtless reject it) but who, beyond the many angered students obliged to contribute to funds supporting the newspaper, is protesting? The leaders of Church? Media? Of course not.

The situation is in line with media conduct and decadent church values more generally. Much could be said about the Mohammed Cartoons crisis. I’m not for lampooning beliefs and Muslims have their point to object. But they protest too much and no one should appease mere bullying. However, press and media which have repeatedly denied respect to Christ and Christianity (along with clergy who have not protested its bias) have been engaged in precisely appeasement towards over-the-top protest. If the press has not actually apologized for what has happened they have not reissued what with the damage done might reasonably have been shown for purposes of reader knowledge and judgement, and they are now conceding to sensitivities by referring to “the Prophet” Mohammed, in a way they would never refer to say, “the Messiah” Jesus, or reckon to concede to the feelings of Christians. Especially as Islam means Submission easy concessions risk being interpreted by fanatics as a gesture of submission encouraging more and larger claims. But lest it seem inflammatory as usual mainstream media has not been reporting the violence to Christians that has been occurring from Nigeria (130 dead over cartoon riots) to Pakistan and Danish clergy rush round the world not to protest attacks on Christians but to assure of the goodwill of Christians to Muslims – which since the religion advocates love and forgiveness doubtless exists, but even so….. Secular media is on the way to silencing Christianity and that religion’s weak leaders blindly acquiesce in it.

ASTROLOGY

One might imagine that censorship would not operate here but as only one example of suppressed information, research and forecasting within the new/old field of astrology one could mention the Christianity to which something major will happen fairly soon. It always does when certain power planets hit the Galactic Centre and the pattern of Pentecost. The entire history of the Church (and by association the Western world) can be read against the super expressive and continuously working birth chart set from the Day of Pentecost, the longest working chart in existence. Yet despite the interest and possible use of the data not only is such information not news to Christian media (one maybe has to accept such blindness is inevitable), but the same applies to even the astrological establishment which has never in years allowed the information to be published and discussed. New Agers can be as big on censorship as the rest.

GAY ISSUES

Another censoring unit of society is the gay establishment. It is not particularly representative of gays at large but frequently distorts and disrespects beliefs and feelings in making its own points - such as recently in another cartoon scandal at Toronto University with images of Mohammed and Christ smooching - and is prompt to suppress whatever it doesn’t find convenient to hear whether from gays or straights. In my own case I’ve managed never in over a year since publication for world first gay research to be interviewed or reviewed in any major paper or media channel in my home base Australia. As pointed out to me by others rather than merely imagined by myself, at least some of this blockage is directly related to the venom of controlling gays. One of these employed by the national broadcaster had the insolence to tell me I couldn’t be interviewed because I hadn’t written about "religion" (my work had in fact been most recently reviewed in America for the Review of Biblical Literature).

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