AFGHANISTAN: Then (12/22/2001) and Now (8/15/2021) by Gayle Geffner
AFGHANISTAN:
Then (12/22/2001) and Now (8/15/2021)
BY: Gayle Geffner, Secretary NCGR LA
This article originally appeared in NCGR Enews shortly after the Taliban entered Kabul. I have added some new paragraphs (and corrected a couple of errors) which update the article.
Politics, history, and religion are complex and inseparable issues in the Middle East. The recent events in Afghanistan are no exception. I am using two synastry charts and a single chart to show the complexity of the situation, so I will only touch on a few important placements in each chart.
THEN: The government which took power on December 22, 2001, was not as dogmatic, afforded more civil liberties and freedom to women, and was more tolerant of Islamic factions than the prior government. Just look at its chart (source Astrodienst). See chart 1 inner wheel, which is the December 22, 2001, Afghanistan government chart (the “2001" chart) for the last 20 years.
The tenth house (mundane astrology) is the president, prime minister, or ruler of a country. Here was have Neptune in Aquarius suggesting more social programs and well being of the population, and since it is Aquarius, more advancement in technology – pretty good for a ruler of a country that was socially based in the past.
However, look at the ninth house – foreign nations, universities, religion, and legal systems, and see what sits there. The South Node is in Sagittarius, so past religious systems remain and are at its core. The Sun, which is the head of state, is still mired in belief systems, and its ruler is in the second house or the economy of the nation. The current president just fled with an enormous amount of cash. Chiron is also here and suggests a need for healing of the country’s belief system, and the ruler of Chiron in Capricorn is also in the second house, so there is a need for healing of the distribution of resources. The asteroid Hidalgo sits here, and that is the religious/military martyr or fanatic. We can see a major attempt to change, and a difficult time to change, religious philosophies of the national government. Mercury is in Capricorn ruled by Saturn which is in Gemini. The old philosophies are considered along with the new, and with Saturn, there are very difficult obstacles to overcome. Also very telling is the fact that the ninth house Sun in Capricorn (ruled by Saturn) is at zero degrees, so the head of state is not only being molded into the role but the economy is affected by this person. Zero degrees suggests the end of one incarnation and the beginning of something new. Religion and philosophy have not been separated and may now be ad odds with this government. There is hope for a new incarnation of government, but with the South Node in Sagittarius in the ninth house, that may not happen as desired.
The eleventh house is allies and institutions. Uranus, Astrea, and Mars all sit here. Uranus suggests an abrupt, surprising change, Astrea suggests morals, and Mars suggests drive. There is a pattern wherein these allies may change course with chaos ensuing. Mars suggests conflict or aggression and in Pisces, there are hidden agendas, optimism, and deception, along with Uranus chaos.
The second house is the economy of the nation – Saturn is here – very difficult with obstacles.
There is a T-square in the chart with Pluto in the eighth house in Sagittarius, Mars in the eleventh house in Pisces, and Saturn in the second house in Gemini, which makes these houses even more challenging. There is also a T-square with the Sun/Venus/Chiron/Moon, and North Node.
The Pluto/Saturn conjunction of January 12, 2020, would sit in the tenth house of the 2001 chart and suggests power grabs, obstacles, restrictions, and a difficult change in leadership. It is interesting to note that at the time of the Pluto/Saturn conjunction, the transiting Jupiter is also in the tenth house. With the 2001 chart’s Sagittarius South Node in the ninth house ruled by Jupiter, there is a suggestion of religious motives and changes to the legal system as well. However, the expansion of old religious conflict may also be a problem. This may go on for some time. I realize this is hindsight, but it is pretty obvious. Interestingly, Donald Trump negotiated the withdrawal of U.S. troops in February 2020, which is consistent with the Pluto/Saturn conjunction placement in the 2001 chart.
NOW: The Taliban entered Kabul on August 15, 2021, at 7:45 P.M. (News source; Fareed Zakaria, CNN, at the time of entry). See the synastry of the 2001 chart with the Taliban entry into Kabul (“TEK”). TEK is the outer ring of chart 1. The first house is the people and citizens of a country. Here we have chaos for the people of the country with TEK’s Uranus in Taurus in the first house. Just look at what has happened and the mass exodus of those who want to get out. TEK’s Pluto and Saturn sit in the 2001 chart’s tenth house, which is the head of state, and Saturn is conjunct the 2001 chart Neptune. Those seeking to take power are operating with force, deception, and also, with the sign of Aquarius, technology is involved.
The TEK’s Uranus in Taurus is ruled by Venus, and the 2001 chart has Venus in the eighth house of, amongst other things, mortality rates. Venus is in Sagittarius suggesting again religious and philosophical causes. There have already been deaths and probably more to come, so the eighth house mortality rate is quite telling. There was an interview on September 14, 2021, on Morning Joe (MSNBC) with Rabbi Will Berkovitz, who described the current violence and death in the streets caused by the Taliban. He also spoke of a group of persons he is working to get out of Afghanistan. This group fled their homes and are switching hiding places daily just to keep one step ahead of the Taliban.
The TEK’s Uranus is trine the 2001 chart’s Midheaven, suggesting chaos and a new leader as well.
The 2001 chart’s ninth house has no transiting TEK planets – in other words, do not look to foreign powers for help at this time. They may help evacuation but probably not much else. Further, looking at the 2001 chart with the South Node in Sagittarius, this is religion and dogma from the past. TEK’s Saturn and Pluto will be in the 2001 chart’s tenth house for a while, and they will bring back past strict religion, but the power struggle may not be over yet. Or, maybe it was just a grand twenty-year experiment.
The TEK chart’s Ascendant, Neptune, Chiron, and Eris sit in the 2001 chart’s twelfth house – prisons, hospitals, spies, secret enemies, crimes, and criminals. Interestingly, Tom Canfield’s book, published by ACS Publications in 2012, entitled “Eris In Signs, Houses, and Aspects” describes Eris as a “frenemy.” A frenemy acts as or appears as a friend in order to manipulate a situation and may actually be an enemy. The frenemy may also be both friend and sometimes enemy. Eris also has a positive side which would be a motivator or inspiration. However, between these two charts, the frenemy factor remains. Neptune in Pisces suggests insight and looking at things in a wishful manner but also suggests deception, probably from the frenemy. Thus, we can deduce there are spies and/or hidden enemies at the time helping the Taliban, and the Taliban is probably doing a lot more behind the scenes than we realized. Chiron is a need for healing. There will be a need for healing when the political issues come to a conclusion.
If you look at the US Sibley chart in synastry with the 2001 chart (chart 2), you will see that the US Pluto in Capricorn sits in the 2001 chart’s tenth house, and the US South Node is there in Aquarius. Pluto in Capricorn suggests some type of power and control issues (with military help), and the South Node (our core being) in Aquarius suggests technological help. That pretty much sums up our role at that time
The US Sibley chart’s Eris sits in the 2001 chart’s ninth house of foreign nations, and of course, the US has been viewed by some as a friend and by the Taliban as an enemy. It is conjunct the 2001 chart’s Sun, Chiron, and Mercury. We tried to win hearts and minds, gave weapons and training, but natally the frenemy factor with the US remains and we may have, as in past situations, left arms and expertise which benefits the enemy.
SINCE TALIBAN ENTERED KABUL: It has come to light that members of the Taliban living in Kabul were clean-shaven and dressed to blend in with modern Afghanistan prior to the Taliban entry into Kabul – thus the frenemy factor described above was truly in play. These people helped the Taliban while appearing not to be Taliban prior to and upon taking over Kabul.
Also, I recently read an article online by Heather Bar, Associate Director Human Rights Women’s Division Watch Women’s Division 2018-2021, entitled “The Fragility of Women’s Rights in Afghanistan,” published in Inkstick Media. In this article, she describes the Taliban, “When they wanted to seem presentable their rhetoric about women’s rights shifted. They pledged to let girls study and women work.”
“In recent weeks . . . the pretense of moderation is over, with alarming reports of school closures, movement restrictions, and women forced to leave their jobs.” Her article goes on to discuss the need for International pressure. Aid has actually decreased and the article calls for help from the International Community.
In an article (in the January 28, 2022 edition of the Los Angeles Times) entitled “More dire each passing day in Afghanistan,” author Kathy Gannon describes the extreme poverty of the country at this time. She states 90% of the populace is dependent on aid. Three million have been displaced. She describes a woman with a small child sitting on a highway in the snow begging. The woman got $2.85 that day and states most days she gets less. Fights have broken out at food distribution centers. Gannon goes on in excruciating detail to describe the plight of women and children, and the World Food Program distribution centers. On a positive note, the Taliban has not interfered with food distribution at this time. The WFP will need 2.6 billion dollars this year.
In an article (in the January 31, 2022, Los Angeles times) entitled, “Report documents allegations extrajudicial killings by Taliban,” written by Edith M. Lederer, she quotes the U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, “ The United Nations has received ‘credible allegations’ that more than 100 members of the former Afghan government, its security forces and those who worked with international troops have been killed since the Taliban took over the country . . ..” She also quotes Guterres stating, “Human rights defenders and media workers also continue ‘to come under attack, intimidation, arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and killings.’” He is also urging U.N. support to combat hunger and economic collapse.
If you look at the TEK chart (Chart 3) on its own there are a few astrological placements I will mention. Neptune is in Pisces in the first house (the people) with Eris in Aries there as well. Neptune in Pisces can be deception and in the sign of Pisces, there may be hope and dreams, optimism, but also disappointment. Eris is the frenemy affecting the people and in Aries ruled by Mars, it suggests military action. Mars is in the sixth house of the health of the nation so this suggests the fighting affecting the nation’s health. Mars is in Virgo ruled by Mercury to which it is conjunct in the sixth house. Mercury is square the South Node which again sits in Afghanistan’s ninth house in Sagittarius so old religion and philosophies play a large part of the new TEK government in formation and its people. Astrea also sits in Sagittarius in the ninth house so morality is in play (morality based on old religious beliefs) and Sagittarius is on the cusp of the tenth house which is the ruler or president of a country. The Sun also represents the head of state and sits in the sixth house. You can see how the Taliban entry into Kabul goes around and around with religion, head of state, and its effect on the people and health of the nation.
There is a Sun, Moon, Jupiter T-square with the Sun (the ruler or head of state) in the sixth house. The Moon in the eighth house (mortality rates) in Scorpio which is co-ruled by Mars in the Sixth house as well so affects the health of the nation and Jupiter in the twelfth house so there is a type of expansion, probably military and behind the scenes also using modern technology since Jupiter is in Aquarius. This also suggests that persons may be working behind the scenes using modern technology against the Taliban and they are trying to get a more humanitarian, less dogmatic government. Bleak as it may be, things may remain in the air for some time and with Mars in Virgo, military action will probably be a factor for some time affecting the health of the people. With the South Node in Sagittarius in the ninth house of foreigners, universities, and more importantly at this time, legal systems and religions, those who are taking power feel a moral, religious justification for their actions and mix religion with the legal system, so they are quite difficult to reason with. Diplomacy with foreign nations may not be easy in the future. To add to this situation, there is a Yod or finger of fate with the Sun, Pluto, and Neptune. Pluto in the eleventh house in Capricorn, Neptune in the first house in Pisces is pointing toward the Sun in the sixth house. The Taliban feels it is their fate to rule and this is supported by their Pluto in Capricorn and the power struggle and use of the military in the eleventh house of local government and groups of persons, right into their entry into Kabul. Neptune is in the first house or the populace and Neptune also suggests socialistic programs and things related to the well-being of the people. There is certainly a dichotomy here considering what has happened so far. On the other hand, the Taliban softened their rhetoric when taking power which suggests their deception of the people affecting the masses and public health. Pluto and Neptune point toward the Sun (the ruler) in Leo, the sign that rules the Sun, in the sixth house of labor, workers, and public health. Thus, the head of state will play a very large part in work and affect women’s right to work and the health of the populace.
With Saturn and Pluto both in the eleventh house of the masses, you can see how truly difficult this is for the people. On the other hand, the eleventh house is also allies of the country, as well as legislative bodies. This is the hard-fought power struggle to take the capital and the difficulty with allies of the previous government. This also suggests power struggles and obstacles in keeping power due to these allies so perhaps there is hope in the future for more aid and pressure for human rights for all from foreign nations.
The TEK chart also has a grand trine with the Sun in Leo (sixth house), Astrea in Sagittarius (ninth house), and the Midheaven also Sagittarius, and Eris in Aries (first house). This trine suggests an easy energy flow to control morality (Astrea) and religion (Sagittarius) and the tenth house ruler and leadership, and the populace. This also presents a difficult situation for foreign nations trying to lend aid and influence to a very controlled society.
If you are interested in why such turmoil persists in the Middle East, I recommend a book that has been around for a while by reporter Thomas Friedman entitled From Beruit to Jerusalem (2012).