There is a phenomena in astrocartography which I call "Zones of Intensity."
In certain
astrocartography maps, Leading Planet (most-aspected) lines cross over
or are found in
great proximity to the least-aspected or Primary Transcendental line. The
midpoint-field
formed by these two (or more) lines creates this so-called Zone of Intensity.
In my research I have found that, at the very least, these regions are
extremely
challenging. Basically these zones call into question the entire task of
"integration":
reining-in the Leading energy and channeling it into the Transcendental
task. This is often
a very difficult thing to accomplish though, and a great number of people,
when in such a
zone, either fail to accomplish this, flee the zone because of the extreme
challenges it
poses, or, if they are more conscious and a bit lucky, they have certain
experiences in
such regions which form an important part of their life journey -- yet
even many of these
people often cannot seem to remain within the zone for any extended period
of time.
Because I am not a deterministic astrologer, I never tell people: "Don't
go there!"
Because in fact some people are up to the challenge of a Zone of Intensity
and do well in
such places. But I also see many cases where people have instinctively
avoided these
zones all their lives, and often, instead of living under the Primary Transcendental
within
the zone, they move many miles away and live under the Secondary or even
Tertiary line
and prosper there instead. (Often they move to the Tertiary line
when both the Primary
and Secondary Transcendental are found near the Leading Planet line, i.e.,
when they are
both in the zone and when the Tertiary is the next transcendental in rank
which lies
outside of the zone.)
One of the dangers that such zones pose is that some people, especially
when they are
out of touch with their own instincts (e.g., neurosis), may feel drawn
to the geographic
location of the Primary Transcendental line even when it falls within a
Zone of
Iintensity. Yet the proximity of the Leading or most-aspected planet in
the same region
causes the Primary Transcendental energy to become greatly interfered with,
to the point
where it is often usurped or eclipsed by the Leading Planet energies. At
the very least,
we could say that the 'frequency' or the correct manifestation of the Transcendental
energy is distorted or disturbed in such regions, because of the presence
of the Leading
energy.
Because these zones involve the Leading energy, Zones of Intensity are
very often
involved with hubristic experiences, i.e., with over-reaching or over-identifying
with an
energy that is already found in great abundance within the natal chart
and which is
activated to an even greater pitch within geographic areas that fall under
Leading Planet
lines. While the Leader is always by definition connected with the notion
of hubris or of
over-reaching, the danger that Zones of Intensity pose is that the spiritual
foundation that
we rest upon, which is symbolized by the Primary Transcendental, is itself
shaken in
such a geographic region, since the over-lapping lines in such regions
seem to symbolize
a kind of distortion or disruption of our transcendental purpose.
Usually hubristic behavior leads to a reversal of fortune or a "fall,"
and among historical
biographies, we often find that Zones of Intensity describe exactly that:
regions where
great personalities stumbled and fell. What is of interest though for our
purposes is that
the exact nature of the fall is usually described to a "T" by the planetary
symbolism
associated with the Leading Planet or Planets found in such regions.
A classic example is illustrated in the biography of Che: He decided to
export the
revolution to Bolivia, right in the very center of his Zone of Intensity.
Not only was he
unable to interest anyone in a revolution there; once he arrived there
he was almost
immediately captured, tortured, and killed.
A more recent example is found in the astrocartography
of President George W. Bush:
there we see that Bush has a Zone of Intensity right over the capital,
Washington, DC.
Before we proceed any further, it might be useful to further define what
is involved in a
Zone of Intensity:
ZONES OF INTENSITY:
When most-aspected or Leading Planet lines are found in the vicinity of
the least-aspected or Transcendental Planet lines, the result is called
a
Zone of Intensity. In a nutshell, the danger in such areas, where the
Transcendentals and the Leaders intermingle, is that the most-aspected
or Leading Planets can have a tendency, if left unchecked, to
overwhelm or usurp the role of the least-aspected or Transcendental
Planet. In such zones we may feel as if we are being pulled — in an
extreme and intense fashion — in two very different directions: (1:) the
higher or transcendental goal in life is one direction, which is
symbolized by the least-aspected planet; (2) the habitual mode of
consciousness (sometimes referred to as our "automatic pilot"), which
is often a bit hyper or over-extended, is the other direction, this one
symbolized by the most-aspected or Leading planet energies.
The existential challenge which is often found in such areas is to
somehow make these energies work in unison. The key to integrating
them is for each to find its own level and manner of expression.
Ideally, the Leader (the most-aspected planet) should serve the
Transcendental (the least-aspected planet) in some manner; it should
be used like a tool, rather than as a guiding principle. The latter is
the
proper role of the Transcendental. This is why we say that the
most-aspected planet should serve or assist the Transcendental in
achieving its goal, and not work instead as a split-off or independent
agent. (It may have a tendency to lead, while instead it should assist.)
Such locales can present existential challenges in which we may feel
called upon to confront this seeming tug-of-war of psychic energy with
the hope of somehow constructively uniting it. This is possible,
especially when one attempts to understand the symbolism that is
involved with each particular planet. The more conscious one is of
what these symbols represent, the more creative and productive the
result.
Sometimes clients are prone to travel to such areas just for brief visits,
during which something valuable is learned; sometimes through a very
challenging and difficult process. An example: One woman did
volunteer work abroad, in a region where she worked very intensely
and where she was surrounded each day by warfare and death.
Although she was not aware of it at the time, this global region was in
the very center of her Zone of Intensity. Her zone involved Leading
Pluto, a planet often connected to death and war, especially when
over-aspected. She said the experience was indeed worthwhile, and
that it had transformed her life in many ways, but that living and
working within such a zone for a long period would have been far too
difficult.
Some people feel that these zones represent areas in which they may
momentarily undergo powerful and worthwhile transformations. For
others, such zones are just too intense; and they may prefer to avoid
them entirely. For still others — those who have successfully
integrated and united the Transcendental and Leading energies — such
zones can point to highly creative locales. Again, understanding
what
the Leaders symbolize — conscious awareness — seems to be the key
here.
*******************************************************************
Returning to the chart of George W. Bush we see that he was born with the
following
Leaders:
Moon = 301 = Secondary Leader (equally-aspected)
Jupiter = 301 = Secondary Leader (equally-aspected)
Uranus = 320 = Leading Planet
And the following Transcendentals:
Saturn= 011 = Primary Transcendental (equally-aspected)
Neptune = 011 = Primary Transcendental (equally-aspected)
Mars = 031 = Secondary Transcendental
Over which geographic locales do we find Bush's equally-aspected Primary
Transcendentals? Remember, the Primary Transcendental usually points to
a geographic
region where we are offered a golden opportunity. In Bush’s astrocartography,
we find
them forming a narrow and therefore highly potent Transcendental Midpoint-Field
directly over the state of Florida -- where the Bush brothers successfully
conspired to
overthrow the legitimate results of the presidential election: Florida
made Bush
president, despite the fact that he lost the vote there! In fact, we see
that the crucial city
of Miami -- whose mayor secretly double-crossed Bush's opponent, Al Gore,
and who
helped to prevent a timely vote recount -- is
almost precisely in the center of this
Transcendental Midpoint-Field.
Now, just for comparison sake, let's look at the astrocartography location
of Bush's
Leading or most-aspected Planet, Uranus. Leader Uranus curves along the
west coast,
coming closest to the state of California in a Leading Ascendant pattern.
Bush lost
California, and he also lost the other west coast states: Oregon and Washington.
Bush
had such little support in California that political strategists wondered
why he devoted
as much time as he did to touring the state, as it was accepted knowledge
that California
was a lost cause.
Next we find that Bush's equally-aspected Secondary Leaders, Jupiter and
Moon, run in
tight parallel formation almost precisely over Washington, D.C. These lines
continue
south along the east-coast and actually cross the line of Bush's Primary
Transcendental,
Saturn, off the Florida coast (over the nearby Bahamas).
Here we see the first effect of Bush's Zone of Intensity: He is forever
besmirched with
having the reputation for being the century's first illegitimate president
-- because of
what happened in nearby Florida. His hubris, in stealing the election,
becomes a matter
of the historical record. The Secondary Leader, Moon, emphasizes the illegitimate
use of
social connections formed in childhood: i.e., his family's power, specifically
his father
and brother. Equally-aspected Secondary Leader Jupiter points to the appetite
for
opportunity that "knows no limits" -- i.e., it is out of control precisely
because Jupiter is
a Leading or most-aspected planet.
With Secondary Leaders Jupiter-Moon over Washington DC, and with Primary
Transcendental Saturn over Florida's Atlantic coast, and with Bush's equally
under-aspected Primary Transcendental Neptune over the Gulf states in the
south and
over the east-central states in the north, we see that all this places
both Washington DC
and the state of Florida just along the edge of a Zone of Intensity: Again,
a field created
by the combined lines of Bush's Leaders, Jupiter-Moon, and his Primary
Transcendentals, Saturn-Neptune.
It is interesting to note that the only Transcendental Planet that is not
involved in this
Zone of Intensity, which basically effects the entire east coast, is Bush's
Secondary
Transcendental, Mars. This is of note because Secondary Transcendental
Mars runs over
the Rocky Mountain states (specifically, over Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah,
Arizona),
an area where Bush did extremely well in the election and where some of
his greatest
supporters live, notably, indeed, people who support "the unrestricted
use of gun
ownership and the use of other firearms and weapons" (Secondary Transcendental
Mars).
In fact, if this were a private client, after explaining the inherent dangers
involved with
this east-coast Zone of Intensity, I might advise him or her to 'head
for the hills', that is,
the Rockies, where this Secondary Transcendental functions with so little
interference
from any Leading Planet lines.
Bush's Leading Planets speak about "imperialism and unchecked expansionism"
(Secondary Leader, Jupiter). The "excessive or obsessive tendency to create
unwanted
unions" -- unions which others may experience as "an emotionally suffocating
maternalism or negative Great Mother, i.e., 'Kali' urge" -- is symbolized
by Secondary
Leader Moon. In fact, Bush has already given a Leading Planet (hubristic)
voice to this
when he insincerely spoke about being "a unifier and not a divider." It
is no coincidence
that this phrase was virtually the principal slogan of his campaign. Since
it is rooted in a
Leading Planet complex, one is that much more hesitant to believe it.
The most frightening aspect of all this is the fact that Bush's Leading
or most-aspected
planet is Uranus. This clearly speaks about two things: dystopias or negative
utopian
visions and reversals of social-collective institutions and structures.
Indeed, Bush will
probably try to smash positive cultural developments and trends in favor
of "perfectly
modelled reformations that seek to annihilate any imperfections”, i.e.,
dissenters to the
dystopic "vision."
What can we expect with Saturn and Neptune as the least-aspected or Primary
Transcendentals and Mars as the Secondary Transcendental? In a psychologically
healthy and balanced person, we would hope only for the best as regards
such planetary
energetic potentials. Here, though, given Bush's previous record and biography
as far as
we known it, it is clear that Bush is a case of what I call the psychic
inflation of the
transcendental energy.
This means that Bush is misusing the Saturn-Neptune-Mars
talents, opportunities and fortunes that have been given him -- and we
can only expect
him to continue to misuse such life energies.
Another keynote equation: Bush has used and will continue to use "authoritarian
methods
/ of control and deception" (Primary Saturn / Primary Neptune). He worships
"law and
order" (Primary Saturn) as long as his own criminality is not called into
question (e.g.,
while governor of Texas many citizens were forced to serve extremely long
jail
sentences for cocaine and other drug possession charges, yet Bush himself
was alleged
to have used cocaine in his past, and he was never punished for it). And
he has used and
will probably continue to use institutions of "law and order / to victimize
others who are
powerless to fight against him" (Primary Saturn / Primary Neptune): as
governor his
state ranked at the top of the list for death penalty executions, many
of them of
questionable merit. Finally, Bush owes everything he has to his "father"
(Primary
Saturn) and his "father's / oil money and oil connections" (Primary
Saturn / Primary
Neptune).
It is perhaps also interesting to note that commercial "psychic" Jeane
Dixon was born
with this transcendental pairing of Saturn and Neptune -- and that after
her death, FBI
files revealed that she worked with the Bureau to manufacture "psychic
reports in order
to deceive people, to help to victimize and unempower the Left / and to
maintain the
strict social collective control-mechanisms of the political status quo"
(Neptune /
Saturn). When abused, this planetary pairing can lead to frightening behavior
indeed.
With Secondary Transcendental Mars we can also expect Bush to be comfortable
with
exercising violence and extreme measures, including aggressive and bullying
approaches, to get what he wants. Bush campaign advisors publicly fretted
over whether
or not their candidate could hold his tongue and keep his temper under
wraps. Again, his
excessive and even perhaps enthusiastic use of the death penalty while
governor of
Texas also comes to mind here. Finally, his sympathy with weapons manufacturers
is
well-known. Gun lobbyists were even caught on tape saying that if Bush
were elected,
they would have a man in the White House. With Mars as a Transcendental
rather than a
Leader, instead of scandal this seemed only to work in Bush's favor, particularly
with
Rocky Mountain voters, where we find Bush's Secondary Mars line running
directly
overhead.
Although I am averse to making predictions, I would say that since Secondary
Transcendental Mars is working more effectively than Bush's Primary Transcendentals
-- since Mars is the only one not involvedd in the Zone of Intensity --
that this would be
the principal line to watch in his astrocartography. In fact, on the world
map, Bush's
Mars runs in a Transcendental Midheaven position directly over that part
of the world
where the Bush administration, barely a few days into office, is already
rattling their
sabers:
Bush's Secondary Mars runs directly over Afghanistan, Pakistan and central
Russia. As
we move in a westward direction, we find the line of Bush's most lightly-aspected
Intermediary Planet, Venus (also in a Midheaven position), running directly
over the
southern Iran-Iraq border, and over east-central Saudi Arabia. Therefore,
Mars and
Venus join together
here to form an Intermediary VE / Secondary Transcendental Mars
Midpoint-Field. One wonders if he will attempt to charm his way into war.
In Bush's natal horoscope we find Secondary Transcendental Mars in the
Second House.
Therefore, he may be drawn into a conflict in this part of the world in
order, at least on
one level, to attempt to enhance his own sense of self-esteem and self-image.
Since this
world region is so tied in with oil money, Bush's own inner dynamic which
is related to
resources, money, and self-value may somehow be involved in a projective
tie-in with
the outer world's constellation of these very same issues.
-- 31 Jan. 2001, New York.
Postscript:
About two weeks after this was written and posted on the Internet, U.S.
war planes bombed
Iraq. On February 16, 2001, abcnews.com reported:
"Iraq Bombed: Coalition Jets Hit Command and Control Sites Near Baghdad
Feb. 16 — Ten
years after the Persian Gulf War, U.S. and British warplanes today launched
an air attack on
targets on the outskirts of Iraq's capital, U.S. officials said. A strike
package of 24 aircraft,
comprised of Air Force F-15s, Navy F-18s and four British Tornadoes bombed
five command
and control nodes north of the southern "no-fly zone" in Iraq, Marine Lt.
Gen. Gregory
Newbold told a news conference at the Pentagon.
"It was the most aggressive attack by coalition forces outside the southern
no-fly zone since
U.S. and British planes staged a four-day air campaign against Iraq during
Operation Desert
Fox in December 1998.
Reprinted with permission by Robert Couteau, 2001. You can see more of Mr. Couteau's work at Dominant Star.
STORM CLOUDS AT HIGH NOON: The Bush
Presidency