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The
Fog of War
By
Steffan Vanel
Since writing a book about the Astrological Birthchart of the
United States of America, I have been observing current events
as symbolic manifestations that reflect the Astrological influences
being brought to bear upon this nation at this time. Recently,
something as simple as a documentary film has seemed to epitomize
the essence of these Astrological influences.
 Errol
Morris' film, The Fog of War, contains an interview
with former Secretary of Defense (under Kennedy and Johnson) Robert
McNamara. The film is interspliced with archival footage from
World War II, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and especially the Vietnam
War.
Astrologically, the United States is experiencing, at this time,
virtually the same tests and lessons as were occurring during
the Vietnamese War. It seems no accident that, as I've recently
noticed, many European magazines have displayed on their covers
the question: “Iraq, The New Vietnam?” And, it also
seems no accident that this film would come out at this time.
What is the nature of those Astrological tests and lessons?
In its Astrological Birthchart, the United States has Mars in
the Seventh House, the house related symbolically to the Astrological
sign Libra. The Seventh is the house which represents the experience
of partnerships and relationships with others. The Seventh House
is not a great position for Mars. In an individual's chart it
tends to create a tendency towards conflict and aggression in
relationships, a tendency to rush into battle when opposed.
This Mars, however, is in positive aspect to the Moon in Aquarius.
The Moon, representing influences brought to bear in childhood,
in positive aspect to this Mars, can be related to the success
of the American Revolution against, perhaps, the greatest military
power in the world at that time. This martial, military effort
was in service to the Aquarian ideals of equality and freedom
of the individual which this country was based upon.
This Mars is also, however, in tension – in difficult aspect
– with the planet Neptune. Neptune in positive aspect brings
qualities of compassion, sensitivity, imagination, creativity,
and spirituality. Neptune in difficult aspect, as in this case,
brings tests along the lines of illusion, confusion, delusion,
victimhood and martyrdom.
In the mid to late 1960's, Pluto, the planet of intense transformation,
moved into a conjunction with this Neptune. This was reflected
in the cultural revolution involving music, drugs and mystical
practices for altering consciousness, and various forms of spirituality,
all Neptunian manifestations.
Pluto also, however, moved into a square, into tension with, the
U.S. Mars. This was Vietnam, a deep Plutonian investigation of
our use of martial, ie. military force in our relationships to
others.
From 2001 until 2008, peaking in 2004, 5 and 6, Pluto is moving
into a square with Neptune and an opposition with Mars. The same
exams as were occurring during Vietnam are, basically, occurring
again.
And so, it would be no accident that we would have a documentary
showing the ex-government official generally viewed as the main
architect of the War in Vietnam admitting that the excuse for
entering that war, the Gulf of Tonkin incident, was somehow contrived
or not fully accurate, at the same time that we have entered into
a war based on evidence which is also vague, confusing or illusionary,
ie. not fully accurate or perhaps contrived.
This Mars/Neptune tension in the U.S. birthchart results in what,
in the 60's, was referred to as Hawks and Doves. You probably
wouldn't be surprised to hear that I, myself, at that time,
was a Dove. I am, however, a Libra, a sign which tries to be fair
and see both sides.
The fact that Pluto is tensing both Neptune and Mars at this time
is why the current situation for the Peace Movement is more problematic.
For example, it is difficult to compare the character of Ho Chi
Minh with that of Saddam Hussein.
The Astrological Lesson at this time, as I see it, is to heal
and integrate. We have to see that we can't do Mars without
Neptune, ie. military solutions to problems without Neptune, ie.
without true sensitivity and compassion. And, you can't have
Neptune which doesn't recognize that there is, at times, a
necessary use for Mars.
The film, The Fog of War, has been criticized for
its lack of specific criticism of McNamara and his continued vague
denial of his responsibilities for the War in Vietnam in spite
of his obvious confessions. This, however, is the fog of war,
a title which perfectly captures the sense of Neptune, the God
of the Sea, in tension with Mars, the God of War.
When the energies of Neptunian compassion are harmoniously integrated
with Martial force we will truly serve as a Force for Peace. Until
then, we will continue to be subject to the confusion, illusion
and delusion, ie. the fog, of American military policy and the
quality of the psyche's of those individuals responsible for
it.
Steffan
Vanel, of Northeastern Washington State, will be speaking at MAAS (Metropolitan
Atlanta Astrological Society) April 15th. For information on this and
private readings in Atlanta, call 877.655.6759.
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Astrology
