AN ABORIGINAL VISION OF THE SPIRIT
The symbol dominating Pope Benedict’s visit to Australia and World Youth Day (WYD) is an image of the bird of the Holy Spirit as seen in vision by an Aboriginal woman, Marjorie Liddy on Melville Island in August ‘04. It’s unusual for churches, especially the Catholic, to emphasize the Holy Spirit. One reason it’s now doing so is because Australia, as noted by the Pope at the start of his journey to WYD, is Terra Australis del Espiritu Santu, (Great Southland of the Holy Spirit) according to a declaration in 1606 by the Portuguese explorer, Pedro Fernandez de Quiras. It’s a title Catholics and Protestants alike have subsequently taken as “prophetic” for a country so far not notably spiritual – even “godless” according to the Pope back in 2005.
But now it seems the Holy Spirit has appeared and done so to signify what many believe could be a turning point in Australia’s spiritual destiny. However, much hinges here on the credibility of Majorie Liddy’s vision which it would be easy to dismiss as a superstitious tale seized upon in the interests of Vatican hype. But this would be wrong. The coincidences I shall outline are too many to dismiss and if Christians care to dismiss them then perhaps they should start protesting reference to the Magi and their signs get extracted from their Bibles. But first and briefly there is the vision itself. It is undeniably precious since visions of the Holy Spirit are almost never reported though I have considered the significance of a modern case in the article: If the Holy Spirit Can Be Seen (19th March ‘07 on this Blog)
A VISION AT FULL MOON
August 30th 2004 was the day of the full moon. That evening Majorie Liddy, a devout Catholic of the Tiwi tribe, had been fishing on the Timor Sea with her son. Around 9pm Majorie’s son began staring at the sky. Majorie looked and saw a vast “painting” of a bird in dots (i.e like many Aboriginal dot paintings), its wings covering the whole sky and touching the ends of the horizon. A golden halo surrounded its head. Majorie began to sing a hymn and dance with joy. Her son who saw a large bird was puzzled but Majorie insisted it wasn’t just a bird it was the Holy Spirit, upon declaring which the halo burst showering “sparkles of gold” such as Majorie had never seen towards the earth. The indigenous picture of this bird of the Spirit is adorning the chusables (priestly over garments) of Cardinals during the current WYD celebrations.
IT WAS TRUE AND A MOMENT OF REVELATION
Apart from affirming a person involved in a vision is honest and reliable and effects of the vision positive there’s no way unless one to certify what was seen was somehow objectively the case and that is to take the qualities and symbols of the time if known. In this instance the pattern of meaning within the same heavens Majorie was looking at (but in a different way!) could hardly be stronger. I’ll take data of the event bit by bit - connecting the dots one might say!
Rising over the eastern horizon at 9pm was the asteroid, VERITAS (truth). There is an asteroid, Lie, in case you were wondering. And the truth of this moment was involved with a revelation. How can we affirm “revelation”?
In event patterns the moon is deemed the timer/trigger. Suitably enough for a vision while out fishing the moon was in the fish and seas sign, Pisces, conjunct THE PART OF REVELATION. And this same Part was, besides, in the sector of dreams and visions (the 12th). The PART OF REVELATION like all so called Arabic Parts is only a mathematical point yet it works. As I noted in an article of New Zealand’s Investigate Magazine last April at the time Seven Colombians alleged that in 1995 they were transported to hell and saw among others there John Lennon who called out to Christ, not only were the asteroids for Lennon and Christ in conjunction, reflecting a claim they met, but they were so in the hell sector of the Event chart in which was placed THE PART OF REVELATION.
A TIME THAT WAS JESUS LINKED
The same truth telling VERITAS that was rising over the horizon at 9pm, was doing so in Aries the same sign rising in the commonly accepted chart for modern Australia. By convention Aries rising in any pattern means the “ruler” of that pattern has to be Mars. Significantly Mars at the time of the vision was conjunct the JESUS asteroid as though the event had Jesus’ authority or permission. In any case the sun of the day was conjunct the CHRIST asteroid, which surely reinforces any such religious readings of the vision event…..
THE EVENT WAS ABOUT AUSTRALIA
To inquire what any event is “about” one needs to look especially especially at the Midheaven angle (destiny/reputation/career) of the time and its adjoining sector (the 10th). The vision’s Midheaven was Capricorn, birth sign of the Australian Federation (1.1.1901). Fortunately trining it was asteroid AUSTRALIA as though to make the Australian association absolutely clear. (Specialists might also note the sun on the fateful day was likewise in exact fortunate aspect to Australia’s foundational Saturn the nation’s “ruling” planet given the Federation’s birth under Capricorn).
THE POPE WAS DESTINED TO GIVE THE VISION PROMINENCE
Conjuncting the destiny Midheaven was asteroid RATZINGER, the Pope’s name. This if nothing else seems like a promise that what happened at this moment is something that subsequently the present pope would absorb, endorse and associate with as he is presently doing.
THE VISION’S SPECIAL ABORIGINAL RELEVANCE
Beyond specific associations with political Australia earthy Capricorn is very much the sign of any aboriginality and long tradition. The aboriginal roots of Australia, the suffering and historic complaint of such as “the lost generation” seem highlighted within the picture by the fact that Chiron, the “wounded healer” planetoid, is near the Midheaven in the destiny house in Capricorn. Something ancient, powerful and wounded is being emphasized and it is this energy which is perceiving the vision. And this vision must to some extent be linked, as here it is, to Venus – traditional symbol of art and of any doves, the doves of Venus. And here I am going to be a bit precise….
LINKS OF THE VISION TO THE FIRST PENTECOST
I claim to possess the true and still working chart for Christianity, i.e. the chart of the first Pentecost when the spirit descended as a fiery dove. That pattern shows Venus in fire conjuncting Christianity’s destiny Midheaven. I knew this pattern was correct and relevant to this day years before I could also know the asteroids for remote dates which now support my assumptions about various exactitudes of the chart. So I knew Venus was the symbol of the Holy Spirit in at any rate any visible, revealed form – in other contexts the proper symbol would be Uranus and this planet was again highlighted in Majorie’s pattern albeit by certain technicalities (like its empowerment on a so-called critical degree, one also corresponding to the degree of the fated nodes that day). But what is the relevance of the Venus factor to Majorie’s vision of the Spirit?
Majorie is an Aboriginal who sees things in terms of the land and the earth. She has maintained the Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of the Land itself. Suitably the wounded Chiron symbol is in earthy Capricorn directly opposite Venus in watery Cancer. Accordingly the Spirit which appears to Marjorie over the waters challenges her beliefs (after the manner of oppositions) so she declares the Spirit is also the Spirit indwelling the land. However Majorie who doesn’t name the bird did, in Pentecostal style, see a bird and still fiery in its way – it showers supernatural golden sparkles over the land.
MAJORIE’S “BIRD” WAS A DOVE
Years after I was convinced that Venus represented the Spirit at Pentecost against all probability confirming this I discovered that at Pentecost Venus was conjuncted by the asteroid, COLUMBIA, a variant of the latin Columba and meaning DOVE. So I find it significant that at the time of Majorie’s vision, the wounded Chiron in aboriginal earth that opposed (was challenged by) Venus was itself conjuncts COLUMBIA. We may take it that the unnamed bird of the vision that assumed an aboriginal aspect was, as we might expect, still the Dove of Pentecost.
THE MESSAGE WAITING FOR A MARJORIE TO RECEIVE
Any messages are linked to Mercury. Mercury at the time of Majorie’s vision was not only fortunately trine the Galactic Centre (events in religion) but Australia’s own Mercury which itself is conjunct the Galactic Centre. Small wonder Australia would get to hear what she said and the message would have strong reverberation in the world of religion. And small wonder that a Majorie would give the message. Though purists might prefer a slightly closer conjunction for an asteroid with a planet the fact is there happens to be an asteroid MARJORIE and it was within 2 degrees of conjunction with Mercury!
PROPHECYING AUSTRALIA: WILL IT BECOME THE SOUTHLAND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
It has always been a slight problem for interpreters of modern Australia’s birth pattern that it almost incongruously shows a strong ninth sector, traditionally and principally “the house of God”, of philosophy religion and pilgrimage. This has been explained, (or explained away!) by emphasizing linked themes of the sector like emigration and the tyranny of distance. More likely however it is a prophecy. One day, Australia might actually become a very spiritual and visionary place.
If that’s so it could happen and soon. The Pope’s visit and WYD in some respects only helps exteriorize and reflect more subterranean trends beginning to surface of which Majorie Liddy’s vision is symptomatic and would be more recognized if some of us were not so pre- censored by a mostly disinterested Australian media and publishing that we can’t get important facts and information out.
I have given a little indication of this situation in my article of July 1st, Ruckins McKinley Chooses a Good Time, Ruckins being a prophet who has declared truly dramatic things over Australia. Even there I haven’t described just what was said or what was going on, the crowds calling down the fire of the Spirit in what some would have felt was a very unnerving and special performance of something. At least on some (like someone I trust reporting on an occasion I didn’t attend) the effects were devastating even by the standards of those perfectly familiar with the more charismatic expressions of religion – it was like being hit by bolts of lightning.
More than the Pope the Holy Spirit, it seems, has special designs upon Australia and you have seen and heard nothing yet.
CHRISTIANITY AND FULL MOONS AND THE FUTURE
In the days before astrology and horoscopes as we know them even existed the prophet Isaiah inveighed against those who forecast by new moons. Times have moved on and not only was Christ’s birth an event for astrology but full moons are rather important if you know how to read them as they didn’t in Isaiah’s times. Full moons are not just the property of witches dancing in a ring. Majorie’s vision occurred at full moon. Last month’s full moon hit the Galactic Centre and had affinity for the likes of Ruckins’ mid month declarations. This month’s full moon conjuncts Australia’s destiny Midheaven and puts the country under the international spotlight as the Pope comes here. Sydney’s papal mass of this Thursday falls just prior to the full moon which oversees Friday’s Stations of the Cross around Sydney.
When the excitement of the papal visit is over it is unlikely to be the end of something ,it will only be a beginning. All the signs are that a lot more is on the way, that something right now is only beginning and it could indeed be that the ancient Portuguese “prophecy” will turn out to be Australia’s unexpected new reality.
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Monday, July 14, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
HIDDEN ASPECTS OF THE ANGLICAN GAY SPLIT
HOMOSEXUALITY DIVIDES THE ANGLICAN CHURCH
On Monday June 30th The Australian newspaper declared what had happened in Jerusalem that weekend (Saturday evening according to London’s Sunday Times ) was perhaps the most historic event for the Anglican Church since the Reformation.
The statement may yet prove a bit extreme but the now actual or virtual declared split of the church into opposed liberal and conservative factions, the former under the Archbishop of Canterbury and the latter guided by Australia’s Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Jensen and Nigeria’s Archbishop Akinola(Christianity’s version of Robert Mugabe for high handedness) is undeniably unprecedented and serious. But it shouldn’t have been a surprise and amid all the uncertainties afflicting the Anglican Churches worldwide one thing was reasonably certain and that is that the split that has created FOCA, (The Fellowship of Conservative Anglicans) was pretty inevitable - “fated” one might say.
Since I regularly claim to have a unique knowledge regarding the astrology of Christianity which is working clearly for this crisis I shall emphasize this hidden aspect of affairs but there are others and I mention these especially later on.
ANGLICANISM AND THE DANGEROUS MONTH OF JUNE
At the beginning of June just prior to the month’s lunation (new moon) as this would be falling so closely conjunct the Saturn of Christianity’s birth I wondered what restriction or loss of rights somewhere on the globe it might portend given so much report of persecution recently. I was puzzled because, as indicated in my June 11th article about Ruckins McKinley’s declaration over Australia and the coming spiritual big wave, by contrast the full moon (which so often brings the promises of a lunation to fruition) was right on the Galactic Centre (events in religion) at 27 Sagittarius. So, to the extent I considered the matter I preferred to be positive and imagine contested but important affirmations, not historic church splits. And I didn’t give the subject much thought since, thanks to Telstra, I still wasn’t netted for purposes of research and was anyway much otherwise preoccupied.
However the Galactic Centre contact might be expected to produce rather more than the powerful, but still somewhat secret, events surrounding McKinley on which I have yet to comment. And I should have given more thought to how anything to Saturn in Gemini, the divisions sign, could be involved with undermining disputes, disputes that could especially affect the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. The Archbishop happens to be born under the Twins and has been regularly accused of two faced behavior and (in effect) sitting on the Geminian see-saw where his beliefs and policies are concerned. But Christianity itself was born under Gemini. It suffers this tendency to split, something that has bedeviled (Saturn equals Satan in religious contexts) the entire history of the faith in contradiction of Christ’s wish that “you may all be one”. Then, by tradition, though I’m not sure of its basis in dates historically, pragmatic Virgo is Anglicanism’s sign. (The Anglican Communion is a rather moralistic, pragmatic, rather than mystical sort of church much influenced by policies of the Virgoan Elizabeth 1st). If tradition is right then Saturn currently in Virgo should make things tricky for Anglicans and perhaps too for churches beyond it since currently Saturn in Virgo is setting up afflictions to factors in the birth of Christianity such as Sun (its identity) and Jupiter (its beliefs).
When in November ‘03 a gay bishop was consecrated in America Jupiter (religion/beliefs) was going direct in Virgo (sign of Anglicanism) and making positive aspect to Christianity’s Mercury in its leadership sector. Now that the same ordination is being declared an abomination, Jupiter, currently in conservative Capricorn, is moving in retrograde so in line with this is the call to “get back” to basic, traditional beliefs. But significantly Saturday’s declaration occurred almost exactly as Uranus (any issues to do with homosexuality) after many months also turned apparent retrograde, so that the desire is to reverse, go back upon, the whole development of openness regarding gay issues.
ASTEROID CANTERBURY MARKS THE ANGLICAN LEADERS, URANUS IS ANY GAY CONTROVERSY
While Anglicanism as a religion is associated with Virgo its leadership is indicated by the asteroid, Canterbury in another ritualistic earth sign, Taurus. Asteroid Canterbury though still unnamed at the time was at almost 28 Taurus at Christianity’s birth. Two thousand years later, in November 03, when gay Bishop Robinson was consecrated as first(out) gay bishop - there have been plenty of the closeted variety across history! - the always gay relevant Uranus was making direct difficulty square to asteroid Canterbury from 28 of Aquarius, the sign of Uranus’ rulership while Venus (ceremonies and good feelings) was opposing Canterbury from 28 Scorpio. And there would of course be plenty of difficulty and on any purely PR rather than theological basis arguably Robinson was not the best candidate for any first gay bishop and only a certain American emotionalism pushed him in. But that’s another issue.
On June 16th in London what some saw as a virtual gay marriage, an Anglican first, was celebrated in St Bartholomew’s Church for a New Zealand priest and his chaplain. This was the final straw for the conservatives. On Saturday 29th June ‘08 the aggressive action planet Mars was at 28 of Leo, opposing the position of Uranus at Robinson’s consecration and making difficulty square to Christianity’s Canterbury. Anglican leadership was in trouble, indeed its Archbishop was copping a lot of flack. Gayness, in religion at least, was in trouble too because if we take asteroid, Gaily as the gay asteroid (which empirically there is every good reason to believe we should), Mars at 28 Leo last Saturday was declaring war though a conjunction with Christianity’s Gaily at 29 Leo.
Uranus of course can never be overlooked whenever there’s any controversy around gays or almost any controversy about anything the problem for gays being that they are all too often allowed to be the symbol of any dispute and function as the proverbial scapegoat. Typically and disgracefully in recent controversies over a gay parade in Jerusalem, a leading rabbi was trying to organize opposition on the basis Jewish gays were all “evil criminals”.
HOMOSEXUALITY WORSE THAN ATHEISM? AND WHAT ABOUT ARCHBISHOP JENSEN’S INTEGRITY?
Even if you believe homosexuals and homosexuality are immoral what mental trick arrives at this criminality idea? And we may well ask that regarding the abrasive, fanatical Archbishop Akinola. He has been actively encouraging the Nigerian government to jail gays for 5 years at a time. At the last Lambeth conference of Anglicans in ‘98 which nearly came to blows over homosexuality with Akinola doing a lot to turn up the heat (one bishop present told me the atmosphere was so aggressive he would prefer never to attend another Lambeth) gay and revolutionary Uranus was directly afflicted by conservative Saturn in the horoscope of Christianity. And now again for this July’s Lambeth conference Uranus is again in aspect to Saturn though less drastically.
There is a huge irony in what is going on. Strictly speaking, the Anglican Communion should have been soul searching, (and if it wanted to heresy hunt then heresy hunting) over priests who denied the church’s creed or even the existence of God through the Christian atheism of the Sea of Faith movement. Yet just this got passed over in favour of making mere blessings on gay unions (marriages aren’t even in question as in the Scandinavian churches!)and the ordination of gay clergy (which the church has always tacitly been doing) its trigger point for schism. But then, although as mentioned the St Bartholemew’s ceremony of gay blessing whose ritual was seen as virtually a marriage was a trigger for the wrath of conservatives , it’s pretty clear the split is interested beyond simply the gay issue that is its pretext.
There is an urge outside of England and America (in the “Global South”) to establish what is thought of as a post-colonial, non western independence from foundational Anglicanism plus, over in Nigeria where the church has been periodically harassed by Muslims, Archbishop Akinola seeks to appease Muslim criticisms that Christianity is decadent and the pervert church. So, respectability and power issues come into play here. But also some rank fanaticism. As said, Akinola supports jailing gays. We don’t hear all his evangelical supporters condemning him for this. Many may even tacitly support it thus encouraging the suspicion of liberals and secularists that all contemporary talk from conservative Christians about loving the sinner but not the sin and that of course gays must have their rights (an idea none would have had and never voiced prior to Gay Liberation) is convenient lies or at least serious self deception best ignored. And what about Archbishop Jensen? Precisely who and what is this Sydney cleric who makes himself party to support of the Akinola who doesn't wish to sit at table or be in the same room as a homosexual?
It is interesting that Archbishop Jensen of Sydney is a Cancerian (11.7.1943). Cancer is a prime difficulty sign as regards homosexuality. On the one hand Gay Liberation itself was founded under Cancer (on the 28th, rather than the 29th of June, 1969 and at that in America, the nation founded under Cancer, the mother sign. The Great Mother can seem at once permissive and threatening. She tolerates and includes much that others wouldn’t so easily but certainly she troubles heterosexuality, or at least that of heterosexual males. Cancerian males frequently distrust their own and other men’s feminine side and can quite sensationally overcompensate a la Ernest Hemingway who was all for boxing and bull fights and abusing gays in the street. It is in America that homosexuality is most promoted and contested. So, within Anglicanism it is not surprising that once again Cancer will produce the schism trump card – and although homosexuality wasn’t the basis of the schism but rather a divorce let’s note that Anglicanism’s great schism began through the work of the Cancerian Henry V111.
The fire-cracker natal astrology of the rather impossible Archbishop Akinola, an Aquarian (27.1.1944) is something I had better not comment upon. As rebel and maverick Akinola is all of a textbook Aquarian but the sign is also traditionally the sign of all things alternative while a conjunction of Mars and Uranus such as Akinola sports is quite a feature of gay charts (Akinola himself has six kids). So Akinola is finding his own ways to be subversive and different and above all divisive since his Mars/Uranus is of course, in Christianity and Archbishop William’s Gemini.
THE LEGACY OF AFRICAN CHRISTIAN INTOLERANCE
Since this July the Lambeth Conference brings Anglicans from all quarters together it is interesting that the July full moon hits within minutes Christianity’s Part of Homosexuality - interesting because obviously despite, (or even because of), the split the issue will continue to be discussed and I gather that some people, like those of the Other Sheep organization, are pressing for consideration of matters the bullying approach of Archbishop Akinola and other African clergy and their Australian supporters are overlooking.
African clergy may protest that English and American Anglicans (i.e. Episcopalians) have gone too far for the church to be recognizable but they also conveniently ignore the incredible and themselves unchristian oppressions they have been overseeing in the African churches. They constantly promote the lie any anthropologist can refute that homosexuality is not native to Africa but an English import; they have silenced and dismissed theologians from colleges if they express any kind of sexually liberal view and are so damning of gays there is a legacy of depression and suicides among gay African Christians as a result.
I fancy that with Canterbury in easy trine in one direction to Christianity’s Part of Homosexuality mainstream Anglicanism would always be something of a gay friendly church no matter the consequences – and as said, all that has really happened is that what was previously closeted has become open - but it will be interesting to see just what the consequences now are. However, I’m inclined to suppose that events in church and world over the coming year may somewhat distract from this question, pressing though it is and may be expected to remain. I suspect the solar and lunar eclipses of August will keep things lively in and out of the church in more ways than one.
J’ACCUSE: AUSTRALIAN CENSORSHIP DIDN’T CHALLENGE ARCHBISHOP JENSEN
My final word is the sour grapes one from someone writing in Australia which is not quite the West of the controversy (though it would like to think so) nor the Global South of many dissidents but simply a place where too much censorship and secrecy favouring every cabal and intrigue prevails. It is plain now that it would have been better for church and world if there had been more close examination and intelligent debate of the divisive Archbishop Jensen’s ideas. Like so many who presume to deal with the issue of gays in the church he gives no indication beyond conservative cliches of really knowing anything about the subject whether at the social or theological level. Developments in thought and scholarship regarding it pass him and others of his kind by and the whole crudely dismissive Australian system allows it.
My A Special Illumination, published in London at the end of '04 was based on a world first, trans-cultural, trans-historical doctoral study on the varieties of gay spirituality from a religious studies department. It included what a friend of the Archbishop of Canterbury judged as probably the best survey of gay theology available. But I obtained no support whatsoever in Australia for promoting it. Likewise a friend from the same dept, Michael Carden, who has published on what is probably the definitive study of the history of Judaeo-Christian understanding of the Sodom story has not been inquired of here. What is the point of study and research in Australia?.....
I was rudely told by a member of the ABC religion department that I hadn’t even written about religion. The editor of a leading paper pompously assured me Australia had experts enough to talk about these religious affairs – in this area that’s hardly true, but at least he didn’t deny I was talking about religion. I could go on but the roll call of questionable conduct in this area just goes on and on. I have never even had apology from another paper for the terrible trouble caused by the disinformation I had done a doctorate not on gay issues but Jesus’ sexuality! Australia’s black and white crude approach to the gays and religion subject makes for simply dismissing Archbishop Jensen as a conservative. That’s not good enough, it reduces everything to media bites and it’s ineffective to assist real change. Information and intellectual pre-censorship keeps Australia behind Europe in mumbers of ways and it has helped to support the questionable policies and actions of the Archbishop of Sydney at what The Australian would define as a historic moment.
On Monday June 30th The Australian newspaper declared what had happened in Jerusalem that weekend (Saturday evening according to London’s Sunday Times ) was perhaps the most historic event for the Anglican Church since the Reformation.
The statement may yet prove a bit extreme but the now actual or virtual declared split of the church into opposed liberal and conservative factions, the former under the Archbishop of Canterbury and the latter guided by Australia’s Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Jensen and Nigeria’s Archbishop Akinola(Christianity’s version of Robert Mugabe for high handedness) is undeniably unprecedented and serious. But it shouldn’t have been a surprise and amid all the uncertainties afflicting the Anglican Churches worldwide one thing was reasonably certain and that is that the split that has created FOCA, (The Fellowship of Conservative Anglicans) was pretty inevitable - “fated” one might say.
Since I regularly claim to have a unique knowledge regarding the astrology of Christianity which is working clearly for this crisis I shall emphasize this hidden aspect of affairs but there are others and I mention these especially later on.
ANGLICANISM AND THE DANGEROUS MONTH OF JUNE
At the beginning of June just prior to the month’s lunation (new moon) as this would be falling so closely conjunct the Saturn of Christianity’s birth I wondered what restriction or loss of rights somewhere on the globe it might portend given so much report of persecution recently. I was puzzled because, as indicated in my June 11th article about Ruckins McKinley’s declaration over Australia and the coming spiritual big wave, by contrast the full moon (which so often brings the promises of a lunation to fruition) was right on the Galactic Centre (events in religion) at 27 Sagittarius. So, to the extent I considered the matter I preferred to be positive and imagine contested but important affirmations, not historic church splits. And I didn’t give the subject much thought since, thanks to Telstra, I still wasn’t netted for purposes of research and was anyway much otherwise preoccupied.
However the Galactic Centre contact might be expected to produce rather more than the powerful, but still somewhat secret, events surrounding McKinley on which I have yet to comment. And I should have given more thought to how anything to Saturn in Gemini, the divisions sign, could be involved with undermining disputes, disputes that could especially affect the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. The Archbishop happens to be born under the Twins and has been regularly accused of two faced behavior and (in effect) sitting on the Geminian see-saw where his beliefs and policies are concerned. But Christianity itself was born under Gemini. It suffers this tendency to split, something that has bedeviled (Saturn equals Satan in religious contexts) the entire history of the faith in contradiction of Christ’s wish that “you may all be one”. Then, by tradition, though I’m not sure of its basis in dates historically, pragmatic Virgo is Anglicanism’s sign. (The Anglican Communion is a rather moralistic, pragmatic, rather than mystical sort of church much influenced by policies of the Virgoan Elizabeth 1st). If tradition is right then Saturn currently in Virgo should make things tricky for Anglicans and perhaps too for churches beyond it since currently Saturn in Virgo is setting up afflictions to factors in the birth of Christianity such as Sun (its identity) and Jupiter (its beliefs).
When in November ‘03 a gay bishop was consecrated in America Jupiter (religion/beliefs) was going direct in Virgo (sign of Anglicanism) and making positive aspect to Christianity’s Mercury in its leadership sector. Now that the same ordination is being declared an abomination, Jupiter, currently in conservative Capricorn, is moving in retrograde so in line with this is the call to “get back” to basic, traditional beliefs. But significantly Saturday’s declaration occurred almost exactly as Uranus (any issues to do with homosexuality) after many months also turned apparent retrograde, so that the desire is to reverse, go back upon, the whole development of openness regarding gay issues.
ASTEROID CANTERBURY MARKS THE ANGLICAN LEADERS, URANUS IS ANY GAY CONTROVERSY
While Anglicanism as a religion is associated with Virgo its leadership is indicated by the asteroid, Canterbury in another ritualistic earth sign, Taurus. Asteroid Canterbury though still unnamed at the time was at almost 28 Taurus at Christianity’s birth. Two thousand years later, in November 03, when gay Bishop Robinson was consecrated as first(out) gay bishop - there have been plenty of the closeted variety across history! - the always gay relevant Uranus was making direct difficulty square to asteroid Canterbury from 28 of Aquarius, the sign of Uranus’ rulership while Venus (ceremonies and good feelings) was opposing Canterbury from 28 Scorpio. And there would of course be plenty of difficulty and on any purely PR rather than theological basis arguably Robinson was not the best candidate for any first gay bishop and only a certain American emotionalism pushed him in. But that’s another issue.
On June 16th in London what some saw as a virtual gay marriage, an Anglican first, was celebrated in St Bartholomew’s Church for a New Zealand priest and his chaplain. This was the final straw for the conservatives. On Saturday 29th June ‘08 the aggressive action planet Mars was at 28 of Leo, opposing the position of Uranus at Robinson’s consecration and making difficulty square to Christianity’s Canterbury. Anglican leadership was in trouble, indeed its Archbishop was copping a lot of flack. Gayness, in religion at least, was in trouble too because if we take asteroid, Gaily as the gay asteroid (which empirically there is every good reason to believe we should), Mars at 28 Leo last Saturday was declaring war though a conjunction with Christianity’s Gaily at 29 Leo.
Uranus of course can never be overlooked whenever there’s any controversy around gays or almost any controversy about anything the problem for gays being that they are all too often allowed to be the symbol of any dispute and function as the proverbial scapegoat. Typically and disgracefully in recent controversies over a gay parade in Jerusalem, a leading rabbi was trying to organize opposition on the basis Jewish gays were all “evil criminals”.
HOMOSEXUALITY WORSE THAN ATHEISM? AND WHAT ABOUT ARCHBISHOP JENSEN’S INTEGRITY?
Even if you believe homosexuals and homosexuality are immoral what mental trick arrives at this criminality idea? And we may well ask that regarding the abrasive, fanatical Archbishop Akinola. He has been actively encouraging the Nigerian government to jail gays for 5 years at a time. At the last Lambeth conference of Anglicans in ‘98 which nearly came to blows over homosexuality with Akinola doing a lot to turn up the heat (one bishop present told me the atmosphere was so aggressive he would prefer never to attend another Lambeth) gay and revolutionary Uranus was directly afflicted by conservative Saturn in the horoscope of Christianity. And now again for this July’s Lambeth conference Uranus is again in aspect to Saturn though less drastically.
There is a huge irony in what is going on. Strictly speaking, the Anglican Communion should have been soul searching, (and if it wanted to heresy hunt then heresy hunting) over priests who denied the church’s creed or even the existence of God through the Christian atheism of the Sea of Faith movement. Yet just this got passed over in favour of making mere blessings on gay unions (marriages aren’t even in question as in the Scandinavian churches!)and the ordination of gay clergy (which the church has always tacitly been doing) its trigger point for schism. But then, although as mentioned the St Bartholemew’s ceremony of gay blessing whose ritual was seen as virtually a marriage was a trigger for the wrath of conservatives , it’s pretty clear the split is interested beyond simply the gay issue that is its pretext.
There is an urge outside of England and America (in the “Global South”) to establish what is thought of as a post-colonial, non western independence from foundational Anglicanism plus, over in Nigeria where the church has been periodically harassed by Muslims, Archbishop Akinola seeks to appease Muslim criticisms that Christianity is decadent and the pervert church. So, respectability and power issues come into play here. But also some rank fanaticism. As said, Akinola supports jailing gays. We don’t hear all his evangelical supporters condemning him for this. Many may even tacitly support it thus encouraging the suspicion of liberals and secularists that all contemporary talk from conservative Christians about loving the sinner but not the sin and that of course gays must have their rights (an idea none would have had and never voiced prior to Gay Liberation) is convenient lies or at least serious self deception best ignored. And what about Archbishop Jensen? Precisely who and what is this Sydney cleric who makes himself party to support of the Akinola who doesn't wish to sit at table or be in the same room as a homosexual?
It is interesting that Archbishop Jensen of Sydney is a Cancerian (11.7.1943). Cancer is a prime difficulty sign as regards homosexuality. On the one hand Gay Liberation itself was founded under Cancer (on the 28th, rather than the 29th of June, 1969 and at that in America, the nation founded under Cancer, the mother sign. The Great Mother can seem at once permissive and threatening. She tolerates and includes much that others wouldn’t so easily but certainly she troubles heterosexuality, or at least that of heterosexual males. Cancerian males frequently distrust their own and other men’s feminine side and can quite sensationally overcompensate a la Ernest Hemingway who was all for boxing and bull fights and abusing gays in the street. It is in America that homosexuality is most promoted and contested. So, within Anglicanism it is not surprising that once again Cancer will produce the schism trump card – and although homosexuality wasn’t the basis of the schism but rather a divorce let’s note that Anglicanism’s great schism began through the work of the Cancerian Henry V111.
The fire-cracker natal astrology of the rather impossible Archbishop Akinola, an Aquarian (27.1.1944) is something I had better not comment upon. As rebel and maverick Akinola is all of a textbook Aquarian but the sign is also traditionally the sign of all things alternative while a conjunction of Mars and Uranus such as Akinola sports is quite a feature of gay charts (Akinola himself has six kids). So Akinola is finding his own ways to be subversive and different and above all divisive since his Mars/Uranus is of course, in Christianity and Archbishop William’s Gemini.
THE LEGACY OF AFRICAN CHRISTIAN INTOLERANCE
Since this July the Lambeth Conference brings Anglicans from all quarters together it is interesting that the July full moon hits within minutes Christianity’s Part of Homosexuality - interesting because obviously despite, (or even because of), the split the issue will continue to be discussed and I gather that some people, like those of the Other Sheep organization, are pressing for consideration of matters the bullying approach of Archbishop Akinola and other African clergy and their Australian supporters are overlooking.
African clergy may protest that English and American Anglicans (i.e. Episcopalians) have gone too far for the church to be recognizable but they also conveniently ignore the incredible and themselves unchristian oppressions they have been overseeing in the African churches. They constantly promote the lie any anthropologist can refute that homosexuality is not native to Africa but an English import; they have silenced and dismissed theologians from colleges if they express any kind of sexually liberal view and are so damning of gays there is a legacy of depression and suicides among gay African Christians as a result.
I fancy that with Canterbury in easy trine in one direction to Christianity’s Part of Homosexuality mainstream Anglicanism would always be something of a gay friendly church no matter the consequences – and as said, all that has really happened is that what was previously closeted has become open - but it will be interesting to see just what the consequences now are. However, I’m inclined to suppose that events in church and world over the coming year may somewhat distract from this question, pressing though it is and may be expected to remain. I suspect the solar and lunar eclipses of August will keep things lively in and out of the church in more ways than one.
J’ACCUSE: AUSTRALIAN CENSORSHIP DIDN’T CHALLENGE ARCHBISHOP JENSEN
My final word is the sour grapes one from someone writing in Australia which is not quite the West of the controversy (though it would like to think so) nor the Global South of many dissidents but simply a place where too much censorship and secrecy favouring every cabal and intrigue prevails. It is plain now that it would have been better for church and world if there had been more close examination and intelligent debate of the divisive Archbishop Jensen’s ideas. Like so many who presume to deal with the issue of gays in the church he gives no indication beyond conservative cliches of really knowing anything about the subject whether at the social or theological level. Developments in thought and scholarship regarding it pass him and others of his kind by and the whole crudely dismissive Australian system allows it.
My A Special Illumination, published in London at the end of '04 was based on a world first, trans-cultural, trans-historical doctoral study on the varieties of gay spirituality from a religious studies department. It included what a friend of the Archbishop of Canterbury judged as probably the best survey of gay theology available. But I obtained no support whatsoever in Australia for promoting it. Likewise a friend from the same dept, Michael Carden, who has published on what is probably the definitive study of the history of Judaeo-Christian understanding of the Sodom story has not been inquired of here. What is the point of study and research in Australia?.....
I was rudely told by a member of the ABC religion department that I hadn’t even written about religion. The editor of a leading paper pompously assured me Australia had experts enough to talk about these religious affairs – in this area that’s hardly true, but at least he didn’t deny I was talking about religion. I could go on but the roll call of questionable conduct in this area just goes on and on. I have never even had apology from another paper for the terrible trouble caused by the disinformation I had done a doctorate not on gay issues but Jesus’ sexuality! Australia’s black and white crude approach to the gays and religion subject makes for simply dismissing Archbishop Jensen as a conservative. That’s not good enough, it reduces everything to media bites and it’s ineffective to assist real change. Information and intellectual pre-censorship keeps Australia behind Europe in mumbers of ways and it has helped to support the questionable policies and actions of the Archbishop of Sydney at what The Australian would define as a historic moment.
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