Spain is practically on civil-war footing over the Catalonia independence referendum, which the Madrid government has declared illegal and sent in baton-wielding national police firing rubber bullets to enforce their will. Hundreds are reported to be injured in Barcelona. Officials involved in planning the vote have been charged with sedition and hundreds of separatist mayors are threatened with prosecution. Polls suggest a majority of voters are against independence but the heavy-handed tactics of PM Mariano Rajoy have only fuelled separatist fervour. Looming large is the ghost of fascist General Franco, who outlawed the Catalan language, abolished the regional government and executed activists after the 1936 civil war. History never completely dies.
Both Spain charts – 19 January 1479 JC (which works remarkably well) and 22 November 1975 12.45pm – indicate that this is a saga which will run and run.
During the 1936 Spanish Civil War, tr Neptune then in Virgo was opposition the Spain 1479 Mars and moving to conjunct the Saturn, for an undermining and destructive few years of violent military action. Now exactly half a Neptune cycle later, tr Neptune in Pisces is approaching the conjunction to that Mars in 2018 and then opposing the Spain Saturn in 2019. In 1936 tr Uranus then in Taurus was square the Spain 1479 Aquarius Sun – that won’t recur until 2020, but it is coming as Spain faces another Uranus Return.
Mariano Rajoy, 27 March 1955, is a Sun Aries; with a formidably stubborn and ruthless Mars (Moon) in Taurus opposition Saturn in Scorpio square Pluto, which impacts badly with the Catalonia’s equally Fixed chart. He looks especially hyped-up at the moment with his Solar Arc Mars opposition Saturn having moved to elbow his Jupiter Uranus conjunction. His grip of power is shaky and he may not last much longer.
The only date I can find for Catalonia is 11 May 1268 JC, giving it a stalwart Taurus Sun opposition Pluto, with Pluto square Saturn; and an excitable and unforgiving Mars in Scorpio opposition Venus in Taurus. That chart has been under assault as the fight for Catalonia independence started to escalate two years back with the Solar Arc Mars opposition the Sun, and is facing a tumultuous next several years with an explosive tr Uranus opposition Mars in 2018, conjunct Venus in 2019; tr Pluto square Neptune in 2019/2020; and Solar Arc Mars conjunct Pluto in 2021/22 – so a hugely challenging few years ahead.
Hugh, the EU is strangely silent as many of them have similar rumbling factions within their own borders so that if they speak out, it may cost them dearly. Easier to watch what the neighbours do first……
The Catalans have also unwittingly posed a huge question about the nature of the EU itself as those people being clubbed today were not just citizens of Spain but also legally Citizens of the European Union with certain freedoms supposedly protected by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Marjorie if you don’t mind, could you update King Felipe’s post? He hasn’t made any declaration in relation to today and I’m curious about how it will affect him. Thank you in advance.