Ebola or Genocide? West Africa and the November 2013 Hybrid Solar Eclipse

by Duarte

Ebola or Genocide? West Africa and the Hybrid Eclipse of November 2013

Estebon Duarte 2014

In his Tetrabiblos Ptolemy laid out a methodology for analyzing eclipses within the ancient divinatory and omen traditions that has been considered both encyclopedic and scientific, underpinned by models of planetary theory and explanation that kept cosmologists and astrologers busy reading charts and predicting cycles; judicial, meteorological, and genethlialogical, for centuries beyond. This methodology and its lasting effect summarized for examination and application by Dr. Ben Dykes in his recent (2013) book, Astrology of the World I: The Ptolemaic Inheritance is a template for understanding and applying the originations and subsequent innovations Ptolemy inspired.

As pointed out by Dykes in his introduction to eclipses, ancient cultures have been done a disservice by being portrayed as fearful observers of celestial omen. Babylonian eclipse records describe these ‘omens’ were not only predicted, but useful for information as well.

By the time of Ptolemy (1st c.), astrology was a varied science in cultural practice and application. Eclipses were judged as weather indicators, as well as indicators of shifts in religion and politics, each with its own kind of ‘weather’.

In an effort to analyze the Hybrid Solar Eclipse of November 3 2013 within the perspective of “The Ptolemaic Inheritance” there are points unique to each eclipse reading that must be considered, including but not limited to;

• Length of the eclipse
• Horoscope chart for the middle point or maximum eclipse
• Path of visibility or totality of the eclipse
• Considerations before judgment, what does the eclipse portend?
• Localizations or considerations to localize the chart
• Timing techniques and relevant charts

When initially examining the charts relevant to the eclipse in November of 2013 I was drawn to the conflict in the Central African Republic (C.A.R) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.) for two reasons: First the path of observable totality was very thin owing to the hybrid nature of the eclipse, the eclipse hit landfall in Gabon and stretched across the Congo, DRC, Kenya and into Somalia. As testified conflict areas these seemed localized indicators of the eclipse in Scorpio attended by Saturn and Mars. Second, the eclipse of November 3 2013 was a part of Saros cycle 143, the previous eclipse in the cycle being October 2 1959, which drew a similar eclipse path from the United States to Africa and could be considered indicative of the Congo Crisis (as pointed out by Dykes).

While examining the relevant charts in late 2013 it seemed that the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction cycles would need to be considered for real judgment on political upheaval in West Africa (extending to the Eastern Coast) and while gathering research in February 2014 for that separate work the first indications of an Ebola breakout were being reported.

Horoscope Chart for November 3 2013 Hybrid Solar Eclipse – Greatest Eclipse Point – Atlantic Ocean

Using the horoscope chart drawn for the middle or actual conjunction of the Sun and Moon with the coordinates reported by Fred Espenak, NASA’s GSFC, (03 N 30, 11 W 41) calculated with Kairon astrology software for OSX gives a rising degree of 10 Aquarius, with the eclipse occurring at 11 Scorpio within 4 degrees of the MC at 16 Scorpio. Mercury and Saturn are with the conjunction (under the beams?) in Scorpio at 07 and 13 degrees respectively. The ruler of this stellia is Mars, in the 8^th sign Virgo (11 degrees), a human image on the house of death. Countries and cities with these signs and degrees prominent in the annual ingresses and relevant radix charts will be affected.

Of the configuration above, Sahl bin Bishr (c. 9^th century) had this to say (Astrology of the World I, p. 362);

“And if Mars was the ruler of the management of the eclipse and its bound, it perpetrates evil and corruption from dryness. And if his indication was in people…a disease from fever and heat, and the effusion of blood.”

Dykes summarized the breakdown of eclipse delineation and prediction when producing an example under Ptolemy’s instructions, following that template at the point of greatest eclipse on the path of totality the November 3 2013 eclipse lasted 5.4 hours. While not all of the eclipse was total, local obscuration was such that by tradition roughly 5 years 5 months will mark the timeline of the effects of the eclipse in those places where totality was achieved.

The eclipse is 5 degrees from the Midheaven and within the middle third of the heavens. As this arrangement is similar to the one provided by Dykes I quote him for clarity and brevity,

“According to Ptolemy’s instructions, the effects must begin within 1 year. Because the eclipse is near the Midheaven or in the middle third of heaven, then the effects should begin within 4-8 months (the middle third of one year), and the intensification of them should likewise be within the middle third of the total time indicated…”

Continuing with the November 2013 eclipse:

• Whatever the eclipse portends should begin to be manifest between March 3 2014 and July 3 2014
• The effects of the eclipse in those countries with affected ingress or radix charts should intensify within the second twenty-two month period, anytime between January 3 2016 and May 3 2016
• The residual effects of the eclipse will last for 5.4 years after the event, or between August 2019 and December 2019, and should begin to subside around twenty-two months prior; October 2017 – February 2018

Using this data to unpack the expanded points mentioned prior provides specific information for the delineation including countries affected and testimonies to look for in upcoming ingress and lunation charts.

The length of the eclipse and its formulated effect in years and months is well documented in the extant historical astrological traditions. While Ptolemy’s reported method allows countries away from the eclipse path to be affected by zodiacal sympathy with the eclipse astrological disposition, this chart is drawn for the middle point of the eclipse along its central path which was just miles from the Sierra Leone and Liberian coastlines in the Atlantic Ocean.

Eclipse Path of the Nov 3 2013 Hybrid Solar Eclipse including Greatest Eclipse Point

screenshot from “Ebola Outbreak: How the Virus Spread”. See the full interactive map at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/health-science-technology/ebola-outbreak/map-how-the-ebola-outbreak-spread-through-africa/

The similarities between eclipse path and epidemic dispersion are striking. If proximity of path were an indication of localization of events I would be lead to present Jacksonville Florida, Savannah Georgia, or Charleston South Carolina as likely places where Ebola cases would emerge in the United States.

However, with Dallas and New York as initially affected cities, localization of events may be more aligned with zodiacal sympathy. It could be stated that these potentially infectious carriers entered US ports (Washington DC and New York) within the slim path of visibility for an annual eclipse already in progress at sunrise, though the maximum eclipse (and thus timing chart) had happened prior to sunrise.

From Guinea, where the epidemic began, the eclipse view was total is some parts of the country. Using Conakry for the chart and a local eclipse length of 3.28 hours the timeline matches estimates promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO), West African health officials, and Doctors Without Borders. With a similar time frame for when the event should begin (within 4 months), the length of time between intensification and abatement of the effects is roughly 12 months. Following a schedule more like this;

• Whatever the eclipse portends should begin to be manifest between March 3 2014 and July 3 2014
• The effects of the eclipse in Guinea should intensify within the second twelve month period, anytime between March 3 2015 and July 3 2015
• The residual effects of the eclipse throughout the country will last for 3 years 3 months after the event, or between March 2017 and July 2017, and should begin to subside around twelve months prior; March 2016 – July 2016

Check back for localized Ingress charts and relevant transits for all Ebola affected countries…