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Russia and 19º Libra

Russia, the largest country in the world when measured by territory, is traditionally linked to the sign of Aquarius, where the Sun (i.e., life, the king) is in detriment. Russia is a country where human heads (Sun) have fallen frequently, as with the last Russian royal family, the Romanov dynasty. (1) In this article, I will begin to trace the importance of 19º Libra, the degree of the Sun’s fall, to events in Russia’s history. (2)

The fixed star Algol is also prominent in Russian charts. In Moscow, the capital city, the first Russian emperor, Ivan the Terrible, placed a guillotine in front of the Kremlin, where heads were cut off, a theme similar to the imagery of the Sun’s fall at 19º Libra. (I mention Stalin’s “purges” (1936–1940) to also demonstrate this symbolism.) (3)


The USSR

Looking at the chart of the founding of the USSR, we find Saturn, ruler of the 10th house Capricorn, in the sign of its exaltation at 19° Libra, the degree of the Sun’s fall. This is a symbol of Soviet leaders who don’t have strong self-awareness, and see danger in everybody  in front of them. This is an image of the very authoritarian Soviet leaders. When the Sun is strong, it works on the principle, “All for one and one for all”; this is a Sun that cannot be defeated, which is how it acts in the degree of its exaltation at 19° Aries. In this chart, we also see that the Moon, representing the people, is located at 23°44′ Taurus, very close to fixed star Algol in the constellation Perseus.

Formation of the USSR
December 30, 1922
12:00 standard time Placidus
Moscow, Russia 55N45 37E35
USSR natal

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
Another example of the importance of 19º Libra for Russia is with Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, a leader of the Bolshevik Revolution who founded the communist party in Russia. Lenin was born on April 22, 1870. (4) On November 7th, 1917, when the Bolsheviks seized power, Lenin’s secondary progressed Moon (herein symbolizing the Russian people) was at 19° Libra, the degree of the Sun’s fall. This is an image of the Russian people and their not-so-easy destiny within their country. (Lenin’s secondary progressed Moon was also conjunct Saturn at 19° Libra in the USSR’s founding chart.) (5) As mentioned above, the royal family paid with their lives at the founding of Bolshevik Russia.

Vladimir Lenin natal
April 22, 1870 DD data
21:42 LMT  Placidus
Simbirsk Ujanov Russia 54N20 48E24

Vladimir Lenin natal

Vladimir Lenin, progressed to Bolshevik Revolution, November 7, 1917 Placidus

Lenin, progressed


Saturn return of the USSR chart (2011)

The Saturn return (19° Libra) of the USSR founding chart (1922) was on October 6th, 2011, one day before the birthday of the current Russian president, Vladimir Putin. (5) The Sun in the USSR Saturn return chart is at 13° Libra, the degree of Putin’s natal Sun. This shows the crucial role this man has in the country’s destiny.

Saturn Return for USSR (2011)
October 6, 2011
6:09:01 pm DST
Moscow, Russia 55N45 37E35
Equal houses

 Saturn return Russia 1922 chart

Eclipses
Eclipses are always important,  both in mundane work and at the personal level. I will mention three eclipses in recent history that impact the 19° Aries–Libra axis.

The first was a solar eclipse on October 12th, 1958 at 19° Libra.  This was the period of Nikita Khrushchev, who had an important role during the Cold War.  But a most important event for Russia happened a few years after this eclipse on April 12th, 1961 — astronaut Yuri Gagarin’s journey to space. He was the first man to fly into outer space, fitting the symbolism of a solar eclipse (a new beginning). After a successful flight, Gagarin was promoted and received many awards and titles. However, with the eclipse on the degree of the Sun’s fall, 19° Libra, life is in danger. Yuri Gagarin lost his life a few years later (March 27th, 1968), during a routine flight with another pilot

There was another solar eclipse at 19° Libra on October 12th, 1977. As mentioned above, two years later, the Soviets started the war in Afghanistan, and Leonid Brezhnev, the Soviet leader, died after this eclipse in 1982. Both events fulfilled the symbolism of the degree of the Sun’s fall (i.e., reputation, leader, president): The Soviets lost their reputation in the war in Afghanistan, and their leader died.

A third solar eclipse occurred on April 9th, 1986 at 19° Aries. Four years after the eclipse, the USSR came to an end. This activated the axis of exaltation and fall of the Sun (19° Aries/19° Libra), which led to a realignment of power with the last president of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev.

All of these eclipses activated 19° Libra, the degree I am linking to Russia.

My concluding thoughts: The Sun (e.g., president, king, leader) is weakened at 19° Libra; it is necessary, therefore, to work on improving one’s self-awareness. Symbolically, when we purify our Sun (identity), all fears cease to exist, the need for conflict or defense (Mars) perishes, and we then embody harmony and beauty (Venus) and feel secure (Saturn).

Reference:
Mundane chart data from: The Book of World Horoscopes, by Nicholas Campion, Wessex Astrologer, revised 1999.

Footnotes:
(1) “In Yekaterinburg, Russia, Czar Nicholas II and his family are executed by the Bolsheviks, bringing an end to the three-century-old Romanov dynasty.”  (July 16, 1918)
This Day in History

(2) Editors note: A greatly expanded version of this article appears on the author’s web site. astrologsmiljanagavrancic.blogspot.com

(3) The Great Purge

(4) Although this birth data for Lenin is widely used, it has been given a DD Rodden rating.

(5) The author is demonstrating how different charts in a country’s history can “work.” She writes: “The founding of Bolshevik Russia is a chart that still ‘works’ very well due to the fact that the awareness of  the Russian people still vibrates on that level.”

(6) Vladimir Putin, October 7, 1952. Wikipedia

Bio: Smiljana Gavrancic obtained her astrological education at the Institute for Astrological Research and Education “Johannes Kepler” in Belgrade, where she graduated in October 2010, defending her thesis in Mundane Astrology, “European Union – In Varietate Concordia” (united in diversity) and obtained the status of a graduated Astrologer Researcher. In February 2011, she met requirements to work as an Astrological Consultant and in March of the same year, she became an International Certified Professional Astrologer (ISAR C.A.P.).

Smiljana is a member of ISAR (International Society for Astrological Research) and of the Astrological Association of Great Britain.

2 Comments

  1. Also, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had her natal Sun at 19 deg. of Libra.


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