In the wake of worst natural disaster in recorded history, the victims of a massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra struggle to put their lives back together. With over 147,000 dead and millions homeless, the world has responded with enormous pledges of food, water, cash, medical supplies, and other goods to help the ravaged nations of Southeast Asia.
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The most intriguing placement in the earthquake chart is the Moon, which is at the exact same degree as the Moon in the chart for September 11, 2001: 28 Gemini.
The devastation of the earthquake and tsunamis far outweighs the scope of what happened on September 11, 2001, in terms of loss of life and the emotional trauma to millions of people. Yet the two events are astrologically connected. Americans and people around the world became aware of terrorism in a whole new, very frightening way in 2001. We also, if we were aware, learned about the blessings of angels, and about compassion for anyone who is suffering.
The world has begun to recover from the events of September 11, 2001, and our efforts now help the people of Southeast Asia to recover from the worst natural disaster in recorded history. Do these activities resolve the problem of terrorism in the world? No. Do they remind us of higher values? Indeed they do.
The MoonThe Moon is the planet related to nurturing, maternal activities, protective instincts, and the creative aspect of the mind. The Moon reflects the spirit within each individual. With the Moon at the same degree in the two event charts, the same nurturing instincts have been generated in individuals around the globe. Human beings, when offered the opportunity to respond to the needs of others, cheerfully dip into their resources and give.
Sabian SymbolsIn his book
The Sabian Symbols & Astrological Analysis, Blain Bovee describes the symbol for this degree of Gemini:
“The first mockingbird in spring.�?BR>
Among other concepts, Bovee mentions “resilience: the natural ability to spring back to life.�?The world didn’t come to a halt in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. In fact, vast numbers of people felt a surge of compassion for those injured or killed - and, strange as it may seem, compassion for all people who suffer.
Bovee goes on to say that the challenge of the first mockingbird is to identify the nature of the message. We have seen the United States respond with an attack on Iraq. This war is remarkably unsatisfying and unsuccessful in solving the problem of terror. Now, over three years later, we have another opportunity, and we have grasped it wholeheartedly. How much more satisfying to send aid to people who desperately need it? How much more compassionate to send money, food, and medical supplies than to send tanks and guns?
One use of Sabian Symbols is to meditate on the images. The images themselves don’t provide us with answers to our questions. They do open a channel that allows for the possibility of answers. It is up to each individual to respond to the image in a personal way.
Another “Aid�?StoryI heard a story about a church that sent one of its sons to Iraq. This man sent back messages about what the soldiers really needed to make their lives bearable. He asked for baby wipes because they couldn’t wash their hands and faces very often. His group was deluged by entire storage units of baby wipes. They also received toys to keep their minds busy during off hours.
The point of this story is that each of us, like that soldier, needs to see what is happening around us, and to discover the compassionate - the right - action to take. As we plant the initial seeds of generosity, we need to patiently look for signs that these seeds have taken root.
Response to the Earthquake and TsunamisWhen a great tragedy occurs - such as the September 11, 2001, attacks or the December 26, 2004, earthquake and tsunamis - how shall we respond? Regardless of our motivations, by giving to the victims we assuage their pain is some way. If we give from the heart, we enrich the human condition and help individuals.
It is in the nature of democracy to bring out a sense of personal responsibility and involvement. It is our personal involvement that is transformative, that brings out the innate godliness of the person. I am not surprised by the outpouring of generosity from individual Americans and people from nations around the world to the victims of the earthquake and tsunamis.
While I was researching contributions to disaster relief funds, I was astonished to see that the dollar amounts of contributions and material were increased right before my eyes. The number of nations and individuals involved is heart-warming. At the time of this writing, it appears that the individual donations from Americans will equal U.S. governmental support being sent to Southeast Asia.
As stated on our homepage, we at Llewellyn are deeply saddened by the destruction and loss of life caused by the December 26 earthquake and tsunamis in Southeastern Asia. The world has united in an effort to aid the survivors of this tragedy, but much help is still needed. If you feel able to contribute monetarily to relief efforts, the
American Red Cross website is equipped to take online donations. If not, we hope that you will join us in sending hopes, prayers, and all the positive energy we can spare to those who have suffered from this disaster.
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