You are reading about:
- Inception horscopes of Israel and Palestine
- Aries and Libra Ingress for Israel 2023 and the war of October 7
- Transit picture until 2046
- Israel's Aries ingress in March 2024 and the ongoing conflict
- Libra ingress in October 2024 and attempts for peace?
The Persistence of the Conflict and its Historical Context
There should be no wars. There should be no terrorism. There should be no exclusion, discrimination or segregation. But they are there, coupled with geopolitical interests, with narratives that rationalize brutal actions, shape our understanding of conflict and influence outcomes.
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Astrological consultation with Viennese astrologer Tanja Ristovski. Online consultations available.
Book your consultationDecades of military interventions in the region Israel and Palestine include pre-emptive wars and occupations (1967), military attacks (1973), invasions and wars (1982, 1987-1993, 2000-05), "selectively targeted" bloodshed with civilian casualties as accepted losses (2006 - 2023). Such policies have once again set a deadly trap for the civilian population in the entire region, which has become particularly brutal for the encircled civilians in the Gaza Strip.
The historical causes of the conflict can be sought in the colonial ambitions of the Ottoman Empire and Britain in this particular part of the world, or one can see the reasons in the current global power games and interests. But in reality, nothing justifies destruction and death. War and terror are all too often the means of choice for those in political power.
Astrological Foundations: The Afflicted Birth Charts of Israel and Palestine
When I set out to investigate the astrological background of the recent war, I began examining the national horoscopes and was astonished by the constellations in the inception charts. Both Israelis and Palestinians are historically and culturally connected to the same piece of land in the Mediterranean. The beginning of Israel as a sovereign state is linked to the end of the British Mandate over Palestine and was established in the United Nations Partition Plan of September 3, 1947, which proposed two independent states. The plan was rejected, and that led to a series of wars between 1947 and 1949 known as the Arab-Israeli War. In the middle of this war, the British withdrew from the region, putting the official expiration of their mandate on midnight May 15, 1948. Israel proclaimed a state on May 14, 1948, while the midnight horoscope of May 15 is commonly used to analyze Palestine and its cause (1).
The constellations of the 15. May 1948 show enormously afflicted inception charts. The two horoscopes are only a few hours apart, so their planetary positions are almost identical. The difference lies in the angles and the degree of the Moon. The Leo stellium is positioned in the 10th house of the Israel chart and the 7th house of the midnight chart for Palestine. The Moon is a changeable planet whose influence depends on its configurations. Here, it is in conjunction with Saturn and Pluto, which makes it manifest in a malefic way. The Moon is a natural significator for the common people, and it is in the angle with three malefics (Pluto, Saturn, and Mars). That means that entities were born that create dangerous and harmful circumstances for the civilian population in this region.
The Fiery Nature of the Charts
Because Mars in Leo is a hot and dry planet in a hot and dry sign, it is loaded with excess heat. The conjunction with Saturn in Leo makes the heat tenacious. Therefore, when the Sun in Taurus squares Mars, we can expect explosive situations resulting from being stuck in a fiery conflict. The aspect between the Sun and Mars is a received square (Sun receives Mars in Leo), adding strength to the mix. With four angular planets in the sign of Leo, the influences take on a choleric expression (2). Metaphorically speaking, too much heat produces even more heat, resulting in irritable and combustible situations. The accidental significators for people in both charts are malefics: Mars rules the Ascendant in the horoscope of Israel and Saturn in the Palestinian chart, which corroborates the argument for danger and risk for civilians.
Israel's National Horoscope: A Deeper Analysis
“The Book of World Horoscopes” by N. Campion, presents two times for the horoscope of Israel, which are 16:32 and 16:37. The first time gives 29th degree of Libra for the ascendant, while the second gives 0th degree of Scorpio. Considering that the influence of a sign effectively expires in its last degree and the subsequent sign begins to take over (3), and also that Mars is the Term ruler of 29° of Libra (4), it is plausible to regard Mars as the ruler of the ascendant for Israel. Mars is particularly relevant as the proclamation of the state took place in the middle of a war. The 10th House signifies the government, and Mars in this House also describes the military policies of defense and attack.
The Emphasised Mars and Its Implications
Astrologically interesting is that with Scorpio on the Ascendant, Mars gains enormous strength because it disposes of the zero degrees of Scorpio not only by Domicile and Triplicity but also by Term and Face - following Ptolemy's table of essential dignities. At the same time, Scorpio is the sign of Venus's detriment: with Taurus at the descendant, Venus is the significator of Israel's enemies. Venus is also strongly influenced by malefic Mars, who disposes of her by Triplicity and Term.
Just on a marginal note, I want to point out that in classical astrological literature, Venus was given rulership over “Arabs,” and Saturn has the rulership over “Jews.” (5). In the context of this horoscope, the afflicted Saturn in the 10th house would implicate detriment and hostilities for "Jews". Nevertheless, Saturn is stronger and more dominant than Venus. Venus is accidentally weakened by its placement in the cadent house and the rulership of the 8th and 12th houses.
Instability and Conflict in the Chart
In any case, the very last or very first degree of a sign on the Ascendant is linked with the general instability of a state. The three harmful planets in the 10th house, elevated Mars, Saturn, and Pluto indicate unfortunate events and bloodsheds. The Sun in Taurus and the 10th house symbolize the government. The presence of Mars and Saturn in the 10th and their square aspect with the Sun is associated with ruthless rulers who inflict much suffering on people (6).
Israeli policy is being critically questioned internationally, perhaps currently more plainly than before. It is recognized that democratic values were not applied to the Palestinian civilian population during the decades-long occupation of the Gaza Strip and the subsequent blockade, and the settlement policy is considered illegal under international law.
When the Moon is located in the 10th house, it usually symbolizes prosperity and good fortune for people. However, the presence of the South Node in the 1st house (7) corroborates the earlier mentioned constellation of the Moon in conjunction with Pluto within the group of malefics, which indicates risks, threats, and losses for civilians. Sun, the ruler of the 10th house, is in the 8th house, indicating that Israel is highly dependent on other states, and Mercury, the ruler of the 11th and 9th, is also in the 8th house, corroborating the dependence on international support.
The Aries and Libra 2023 Ingress Charts and the October 7 War
Aries Ingress 2023: Setting the Tone
The Aries Ingress 2023 chart for Israel sets the tone for the upcoming year. The Full Moon on March 7th and the New Moon on March 21st share a common martial theme, with Mars in Gemini forming a square aspect with the Moon in both lunations. In the Aries Ingress chart, Mars is positioned strongly in the angle and forms a square with the luminaries in the 7th house. Mars is in mutual reception with Mercury, which rules the MC and further reinforces the symbolism of armed conflict. Moreover, the conjunction of Mars with two fixed stars, Betelgeuse and Capella, which traditionally signify wars and the death of young people (8), emphasizes the connotation of war.
Libra Ingress 2023: Heightened Tensions
During the period of Libra ingress 2023, Mars is again highlighted. It governs the Ascendant and is debilitated in the sign of Libra (9). It is located in the 12th house, afflicted by the Sun's beams (10), and forms a square with the Moon in Capricorn, which he disposes by Exaltation. This particular configuration represents a scenario of secretively planned assaults. Additionally, in the Full Moon chart of September 29th, Mars is conjoined with the South Node in the 10th house, squares Pluto, and disposes of the Moon, which increases its destructive nature.
The elevated position of Venus in the October Ingress can not be viewed as a symbol of peace. Venus rules over the 12th house of the Ingress, occupies the 12th house in the preceding New Moon, and is located in the 8th house of death in the following Full Moon. Venus here bears the negative symbolism and corroborates hidden, subversive acts and death. Since Venus is the natural significator of women, this may indicate hostility towards women and the possibility of harm. It is important to note that astrological symbolism does not differentiate between women of different nationalities or ethnicities.
The October 7 Attack Chart
The overlay of Israel's horoscope and the attack chart from October 7th reveals that transiting Uranus is almost conjunct with the Sun in the 8th house. Transiting Pluto is only a few degrees from the square to Israel's Ascendant while transiting Mars is applying to conjunct the Ascendant. Transiting Venus, with malicious connotations, is in conjunction with the national Mars.
Long-term Astrological Perspective: 2022-2046
Uranus and Pluto: Instability, Intensity, Upheaval
I'm now going to move on from the Ingress technique and turn my attention to the two malefactors, Uranus and Pluto. Their transit over Israel's founding chart gives a grim outlook on the conflict that has persisted for decades. There is no general Uranus and Pluto square in the skies, as during the series of uprisings between 2011 and 2014, the so-called "Arab Spring." But Pluto and Uranus continuously afflict the most prominent constellations in the predominantly choleric and fixed horoscope of Israel's proclamation. Transits alone cannot reliably predict events like war and peace, but they correspond with significant developments. In a horoscope dominated by fixed stellium of malefic planets, such transits come with the risk of destruction and death.
Key Transits: 2018-2027
Transiting Uranus started to cross the sensitive points of Israel’s horoscope in 2018. The Uranus in opposition to Ascendant in 2018 corresponds with significant escalation of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2018 (11). Since then, Uranus formed a square to MC and the three prominent planets in the 10th house: the Moon, Pluto, and Saturn.
Between the middle of 2022 and spring 2023, Uranus was transiting the 7th house of open enemies, stirring up the stubborn Saturn to destructive action through the square aspect. (See above the analysis of Saturn in Israel’s inception horoscope). That is the astrological image of tensions building up as a backdrop of the Hamas attack in October 2023 and the subsequent war.
From mid-2024, Uranus starts to conjunct the Sun in the eighth house, while Pluto approaches the square with the Ascendant. The combination suggests volatile, eruptive times and, with the symbolism of the eighth house, includes death in general and unstable support from foreign countries.* These aspects will be followed by several oppositions to the prominent planets of the tenth house in later years. In 2025, Uranus provokes the malefic Mars in the 10th house through a square, so the explosive situations continue to affect citizens, people in command, and the military.* In 2026, Pluto opposes the MC of Israel chart three times, and reaches as many times the opposition with the Moon, with the final hit in January 2027. As I previously noted, the Moon is a general significator for civilians. Pluto's transits to MC and Moon may indicate a temporary culmination of destructive actions and pressure from the opposition in Israel, resulting in changes in Israel's policy. (*Edited for clarity 14. Apr. 24)
The Long View: 2027-2046
We as astrologers believe that inception horoscopes are relevant to the future prospects of the entities they describe. I wonder how it is even possible to achieve a peaceful life for the citizens with such heavily afflicted proclamation horoscope. It would be a gross oversimplification to look only at Israel's horoscope and claim that peace in the region depends only on the changes in Israel's policies. The animosity towards Israel is signified in its inception chart (see the beginning of the text).
We can only hope Pluto's opposition to the MC in 2026 will bring changes that aim to alleviate tensions - because the challenging transiting constellations will continue. Three years later, in 2030, the solar arc Pluto from Israel's natal chart forms a conjunction with the Ascendant, while transiting Pluto begins to make opposition to its natal position. After that, until 2043, Pluto makes opposition to Saturn, square to Sun, and opposition to Mars. Around that time, in 2040, transiting Uranus will reach the MC and start forming conjunctions with the planets in the 10th house. In 2046 Uranus will reach the conjunction to Mars in the 10th house, the last planet in the Stellium. That suggests continuous instability and combustible situations for all those years.
The Astrological Outlook for 2024
Historical Year and Current Situation
The year 2024 marks 30 years of Palestine autonomy, which came into effect in 1994 after the signing of the Israel-PLO Peace Accord in Washington on 13 September 1993. Israel’s official objective in this war is to remove Hamas, and according to the opinions of observers (12), some other goals may be at play with the current far-right government in Israel. Observers link the possible cessation of the attacks to domestic and international pressure on this government and to the strengthening of moderate political forces in Israel.
Although I have analyzed the astrological constelations regarding the long-term prospects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I will nonetheless look at the upcoming Ingress Horoscopes and the chances of a ceasefire or peace in 2024.
The lunations that precede and follow the Sun’s Ingress in Aries 2024 strongly emphasize malefic Saturn. The horoscope for the New Moon of March 10th shows elevated Saturn in Pisces, while Jupiter gains importance as the dispositor of the New Moon and Saturn, and as the ruler of the MC. Yet, Jupiter is accidentally weakened by its placement in the 12th house.
Aries Ingress 2024: Continuing Conflict
The horoscope for Aries Ingress 2024 shows Saturn and Venus in conjunction with the Ascendant in Pisces. Jupiter, the ruler of the Ascendant, is in mutual reception with Venus and makes a sextile with Venus and the Ascendant. That would be a beneficial influence and would signify peace, were it not for Saturn's conjunction with Venus, which frustrates the completion of the sextile with Jupiter. Saturn on the Ascendant, which also rules the malefic 12th house, symbolizes destruction and hardship for civilians of Israel and Palestine.
Lunar Eclipse of March 2024: Theme of Conflict
The Full Moon on March 25th is a Lunar Eclipse; so I'll refer to it as such. The Lunar Eclipse that occurs on March 25th repeats the same theme. Venus in Pisces disposes of the eclipsed Moon. Venus is in a sextile aspect with Jupiter and in mutual reception with it. However, both benefics are accidentally afflicted: Venus because of its conjunction with Saturn and through its rulership of the 12th house, and Jupiter because of its placement in the 12th house and its rulership over the seventh house. Additionally, Saturn and Venus square the Ascendant of the Lunar Eclipse. Mars in the 10th house of the eclipse is the most elevated planet and opposes Mars in the 10th house of Israel's inception horoscope. These constellations indicate the continuation of military conflict. The Ascendant of the Lunar Eclipse falls on Israel's Mercury in the 8th house, highlighting the symbolism of death, especially of young people, as well as financial and other dependencies from foreign countries. Against the backdrop of the current war, this may have to do with arms supplies.
The Moon occupies the fifth house of the eclipse chart and highlights local diplomatic efforts for the resolution of the armed conflict (13). However, as the eclipse falls in the twelfth house of Israel's inception chart and forms a square to Venus in the ninth house of foreign policy and to Jupiter ruling the fifth house of the inception chart, it indicates weak peace efforts or behind-the-scenes activity and sabotage.
It is worth noting that during the solar eclipse on October 14th, 2023, which coincided with Hama's attacks, Saturn was at an angle in the 10th house, forming a trine with Scorpio Mars and opposing Venus in the 4th house. The Saturn of the Eclipse opposed then the 10th house Mars in Israel's chart, while the Mars of the Eclipse was exactly on Israel's Ascendant.
The Libra Ingress 2024: attempts for peace?
The astrology for the last quarter of 2024 suggests more serious attempts for peace. In the Solar Eclipse on October 2nd elevated Jupiter disposes of the Eclipse and rules the 4th house. Jupiter occupies the sign of its Detriment and forms a square with angular Saturn; Saturn makes opposition with Mercury and the Ascendant of the Eclipse, which suggests continuous hardship for civilians.
In the Libra Ingress Chart 2024, Mars is the ruler of the 10th and the significator of the government in war. Mars is afflicted and weakened by being in Detriment and placed in the cadent house. The only angular Planet in this Ingress is Pluto on the Ascendant. That symbolizes political pressure put on Israel’s government to terminate attacks. The Lunar Eclipse chart on September 18th corroborates that. It shows retrograde Saturn in the 10th house, which squares Jupiter placed in the Ascendant. Venus in Scorpio is the dispositor of this Eclipse, forming a trine with malefics Mars and Saturn.
The symbolism of angular Jupiter suggests attempts at attaining peace in the 4th quarter of the year. However, the Lunar Eclipse shows retrograde Saturn in the 10th house in square with Jupiter, which symbolizes difficulties for the Israel’s government and Palestinian representatives to achieve a peaceful resolution. The trine between angular Saturn, Mars and afflicted Venus in the Lunar Eclipse strengthen the malefic influence of Saturn. The reluctance or hindrance is shown also in the Solar Eclipse by retrograde Saturn squaring Jupiter from the cusp of the 7th house.
(1) Campion, N., The Book of World Horoscopes (hereafter BoWH); The Wessex Astrologer (2004)
(2) The expression "choleric temperament" in astrology refers to a particular manner of action characterized as impulsive and irritable.
(3) Bonatti, G., Book of Astronomy (hereafter BA); Translated by B.N. Dykes; The Casimi Press (2010)
(4) Term is one of 5 essential dignities a planet can have.
(5) BA.
(6) Ramsey, W., Astrology Restored (hereafter AR); Modernized edition by Kim Farnell (2014);
(7) AR.
(8) Robson, V., Fiksne zvezede I sazvezdja u astrologiji; Prevod Rasa Sekulovic, Decje novine Gornji Milanovac (1991);
(9) Libra is the sign of Mars' detriment.
(10) "Under the sun beams" is the affliction caused by the Sun's proximity to a planet. As the planet approaches the Sun, it gradually becomes less visible until it ultimately disappears when it reaches the same degree as the Sun.
(11) https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/israeli-palestinian-conflict; https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/report-israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/;
(12) https://carnegieendowment.org/2024/02/01/governing-gaza-after-war-israeli-perspectives-pub-91515
(13) The fifth house signifies diplomats and official representatives.
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