The coronation ceremony of King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand began, at a time set by astrologers evidently as propitious, at 10.09 am this morning. Monarchs in Thailand, although constitutional, are God-Kings with semi-divine status and there are severe penalties for derogatory comments domestically which is tricky given the wild and way out past of the present incumbent. He’s been married four times with acrimonious divorces following each, has at least seven children and recently married his former bodyguard. He’s been described as ‘unpredictable to the point of eccentricity.’ The death of his pet poodle some years ago was followed by four days of Buddhist funeral rites. His father, the longest serving monarch of over sixty years, was much respected and revered.
The new king, 28 July 1952 5.45 pm Bangkok, has a charming, playboy’s Sun Venus in Leo in his 7th with a fearsomely determined, controlling and indulgent Mars in Scorpio opposition Jupiter in Taurus square a manipulative Pluto in his 8th and Venus. His Libra Moon is conjunct both Saturn and Neptune and square Uranus contributing to a chaotic emotional and family life.
He’s had nearly three years since the death of his father to acclimatise to his new role and looks suitably serious with his Solar Arc Sun conjunct his Saturn now though he’s also got a confused Solar Arc Venus conjunct Neptune. Tr Saturn is on his Ascendant moving downwards through a lower profile, less ambitious few years ahead so he may start with an understated, more reclusive phase.
His father King Bhumibol, 5 December 1977, was a better fit for Thailand with his Jupiter Uranus falling in Thailand’s 10th and he was anyway a more serious-minded Sun Saturn in Sagittarius.
His latest wife, now Queen Suthida, 3 June 1978, is a Sun Gemini opposition Neptune and trine Pluto, so not short of ambition; with a hard-edged military-style Mars Saturn in Leo but it’s an odd mix with her Venus conjunct his Uranus and square his Saturn Neptune; and her Uranus conjunct his Mars, which all look fairly explosive. Though worst of all her Mars Saturn is conjunct his Pluto which is unpleasant and cruel. No doubt she’ll go the way of his previous spouses at some point.
I’m never sure which system the Buddhist astrologers use to set auspicious times – start of Burma etc – but they certainly don’t coincide with western interpretations. This Coronation chart has a Mars inconjunct the Saturn Pluto conjunction which looks disaster-prone; with an exact unpredictable and disruptive Moon Uranus conjunction, widely conjunct the Sun. Plus an afflicted Neptune. Weird.
It’s his Birthday today, his reign so far is as you described.
What does his Solar Return look like?
Thank you if you comment Marjorie.
The new Queen is a horse, apparently horse women tend to lose their spouses early. Well, I would know as I am a horse myself. Two spouses lost to divorce, the last by passing. As you say, the inevitable will probably happen.
The Crown Prince hasn’t even lived in Thailand for most of his life. He was schooled in the UK and he has a home in Germany, married a German lady. He has had 3 wives and 3 divorces so far.
It is much anticipated that he will stay in the background and allow ‘the establishment’ to run things.
There were elections in Thailand a few weeks ago and the Crown Prince convened a meeting. All the politicians had to fly to Germany to have the meeting!
The previous King was much loved and respected by Thai people. I feel sorry for the Crown Prince, he obviously doesn’t want the role but cannot say no.
There is a lot of media black-out about the royal family here in Thailand. The Daily Mail website is banned after posting topless pictures of a Thai Princess (there are several) around a European pool. It is funny to watch BBC because as soon as a news item comes on about the royal family, whether good or bad, the service is interrupted until it is over. Thailand has a long long way to go but it is a lovely country to live in as an expat.
Yeah, except that Buddhist astrologers, do not use the Vedic astrology at all.
They have concepts that are taken from both Indian and Chinese astrology, but what matters to them the most is being aligned and balanced with the ‘elements’.
Also the lunar day and sign, means so much more to them than in western astrology where aspects are the big deal. Today was a new moon day, in Taurus, so that may have played a part.
And as for the elements of the day, it had both Yin water and Yang metal(hour and day), and Yin and Yang Earth (from the month of the dragon and year of the pig) etc
What makes no sense at all is that Vedic astrology if it plays a minor part in this approach to astrology, says today isn’t an auspicious day for ‘auspicious events’ but for spirituality.
As for the Chinese system, today was okay but tomorrow and after tomorrow would have been much much better days for progress.
Though key may lay in what Marjorie wrote, “Monarchs in Thailand, although constitutional, are God-Kings with semi-divine status,”
Seems like they wanted to apply more spiritualism than practical materialism to his crowning. Buddhism after all, is what the western perspective has summarised into “they believe all is an illusion,”
Tibetan astrology may be the closest you will get to what type of astrology they follow, that and they do have such a strong belief that repeating certain mantras negates any harm, that I believe they put more weight on that, than to go as far as a western astrologer would have for a coronation event.
But the lunar day, the sign it is in, the nodes and the elements may have been their biggest concern, rather than any other planet or aspect.
Fascinating. Thanks for that. Not much relation to our astrology that’s for sure.
Very very different from ours no doubt!
Their way of life does have them look at events with a complete different mindset than ours though, so it will be interesting when we see how all this unfolds over the next few months and year.
Also thank YOU more than anything for all the work you do for western astrology and astrologers here, specially with midpoints, it is very much appreciated!
“I’m never sure which system the Buddhist astrologers use to set auspicious times – start of Burma etc – but they certainly don’t coincide with western interpretations. This Coronation chart has a Mars inconjunct the Saturn Pluto conjunction which looks disaster-prone; with an exact unpredictable and disruptive Moon Uranus conjunction, widely conjunct the Sun. Plus an afflicted Neptune. Weird.”
If it’s anything like Classic Hindu Astrology, they do not use Pluto, Uranus and Neptune. Saturn is important and feared, but they would place great importance to the sign and house rather than those aspects. And they are truly determined to NOT have Saturn in certain houses, especially 6th and 12th, but 1st and I think 8th, too. Also, something I noted: NN Rising. I think this is important and desired.
I remember that you had asked a similar question when you were looking at the Sri Lanka chart earlier this year.
As Solaia mentions above, countries in South and SouthEast Asia use Vedic Astrology which
a) follows the sidereal zodiac, not the tropical zodiac. So, Aries starts at around 15th April, almost a month after the tropical zodiac’s start on 21st March;
b) does not use the outer planets of Uranus, Neptune or Pluto, but do use the Lunar Nodes. Some of the functions of Uranus (radicalism, independence, thinking differently and out of the box) are attributed to the North Node/Rahu, while some features of Neptune (fogginess, imprecision, etc) are attributed to the South Node/Ketu in Vedic Astrology;
c) Does not use aspects (in the Western astrological definition of the word; it does have a related concept of drishti – “line of sight” of the planets) at all, but places a great deal of importance on the placement of signs into Houses (using the Whole House system) and specifically the ownership of the signs and their location on the charts.
I occassionally dabble in Vedic Astrology by setting the chart to use the sidereal (Lahiri) chart and the Whole House system on astro.com. It is not the same as a Vedic chart, but it is quite close.
Thanks.
But still. Many paths one goal. Different systems can give you a slightly different perspective but at the end of the day they have to work against reality. I’m just not sure these do.
@Unmystic Mom, I too was fairly certain they do not use aspects, even if the only period I looked at Vedic was around my Wedding, because so much of what I could “hoover” from Web on most auspicious Wedding date was from Vedic Astrologers. My main revelation was there definitely were more things to be avoided than things to look for.