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Wildfires sweep through wine country





Parts of California's wine region are being ravaged by fast-spreading fires that have killed at least 10 people. Mass evacuations have taken place and at least 1,500 properties have been destroyed. Seven people were killed in Sonoma county, authorities said. About 20,000 people fled from Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties after some of the state's worst-ever wildfires broke out. The governor of California has declared an emergency. Oct. 10; http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41559875





Mundane astrology, the study of heavenly cycles upon groups and nations is the most ancient branch of astrology.  Among other techniques, horoscopes set up for the  phases of the Moon are used routinely by astrologers to understand the reason behind events at any place.  The news of the California fire comes just ahead of the Last Quarter Moon. A chart for the Moon phase at Sonoma has Mars on the Ascendant square Saturn. Ebertin links a Mars-Saturn combination with “destructive energy”. Here Mars is conjunct the star Alkes of the Crater and Denebola of the Lion while Saturn is conjunct stars of Ara, the burning altar.


Alpha (α) Crater, Alkes, is a 4th magnitude orange star in the base of the Cup. Manilius described Crater as 'gratus Iaccho Crater' (Iaccho is Roman Bacchus who is identified with Greek Dionysus) and wrote:

"He [those influenced by the Crater in astrology] will join your vines, Bacchus [translator's note; 'grapevines for the production of wine'], in wedlock to your elms; or he will arrange them on props, so that the fronds resemble the figures in a dance or, allowing your vine to rely on its own strength, he will lead it to spread out its branches as arms, and entrusting you to yourself will forever protect you from the bridal bed, seeing how you were cut from your mother (Semele, daughter of Cadmus)”.  [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, book 5, p.318-321].

Beta (β) Leo, Denebola, [22vi] is a blue star in the tail of the Lion. A Euphratean title for Denebola was  Mikid-isati, the Burning of Fire. Nick Fiorenza adds that Denebola conjoins Alpha Antilia, the air pump which produces the hot air fueling the fire and swirling the obscuring smoke.

Putting the pieces together is it too difficult to see why the vineyards are on fire!

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