Many astrologers, including myself and Claire Courts at AstroRevolution, analyzed the chart for 8:08 p.m. on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, the exact moment that the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics began. (See “All Eyes on the Beijing Olympics.”) Let’s see how we did.
Some astrologers looked at the opposition of Mars in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces and predicted the possibility of explosions and disruptions. There were plenty of explosions around the Olympics stadium dubbed the “Bird’s Nest,” but they weren’t bombs, they were fireworks.
Pisces rules the feet, and it was interesting that the Chinese got criticized for using computer-generated pyrotechnics to produce footprints in the sky during the fireworks that followed opening ceremonies. You can see them here on You Tube.
Even though it didn’t happen in China, the Olympics were indeed marred by conflict. According to astrologer Marjorie Orr, the Chinese are greatly annoyed that the Russians decided to initiate their offensive against Georgia during the Olympics. Can you blame them? Still, from a strategic point of view, it was shrewd timing on the Russians’ part, as the world’s media was focused on the Beijing Games.
The Olympics aren’t over, but the footprint fireworks aren’t the only example of alleged deception. Interesting to note that the Sun conjunct Mercury in Leo in the opening ceremonies chart opposes a stellium of Neptune/North Node/Chiron in Aquarius, sitting behind the scenes in the 12th house.
One story that won’t go away is that the Chinese women’s gymnasts are younger than the ages printed on their passports. It may not be true, but the allegations are in line with Mercury (the planet of communications, opposing Neptune, the planet of deception).
The deception story du jour is that Chinese pingpong players are competing under the flags of other countries. Given how many foreign athletes end up on U.S. teams — no doubt after becoming citizens — this is a story that I can’t get too excited about, but one still worth noting, given the Neptunian signature of the chart we’re analyzing.
Neptune oppose Mercury could also be interpreted as the problems with fog and pollution that plagued the beginning of the Games and prompted some U.S. cyclists to arrive in Beijing wearing masks, a move that didn’t win the U.S. any kudos from the Chinese.
Other manifestations of the Sun (the ruler)/Mercury (the messenger) in Leo opposing Neptune/Node/Chiron — images of a red-faced President Bush being supported by a team of Secret Service agents being transmitted around the world, a topic which I’ve already written about, as well as NBC’s emphasis on swimming.
Now, swimming is an important feature of any Summer Olympics, and it’s particularly newsworthy this year, when U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps was trying to break Mark Spitz’ record for seven gold medals during a single Olympics, a record which Phelps broke today with his eighth gold.
It’s not just Americans who are focused on the pool. Korea has gone mad for swimming at the Beijing Games. Park Tae Hwan won Korea’s first gold medal ever for swimming on Aug. 10, in the “Water Cube,” another interesting manifestation of Mars in Virgo (earth) opposing Uranus in Pisces (water).
Still, some TV viewers think other sports are being short-changed. Case in point: When I tried to buy a badminton set yesterday at the Wal-Mart in Bennington, Vt. (they were sold out), the salesman helping me said, “I’m a huge badminton fan and it’s a shame they’re not showing more of it on TV.”
My bottom line about analyzing charts such as the one for opening ceremonies? We students of astrology can’t be too literal in our intepretations. Explosive events can be fireworks, not bombs, and with any picture involving Neptune/Mercury, nothing is quite as it appears.
Astrology Mundo 