WHEN ASTROLOGERS FAIL
by Resti Santiago
A HANDFUL OF ASTROLOGERS, this writer included, forecasted
that Leni Robredo would be the top choice of Filipinos in the 2022 presidential
election. But alas, it seems that it was not meant to be, or was it? That
depends on how you look at things. Even in failure, astrologers remain
steadfast in pointing out what may not be apparent.
Let me dissect this failure and learn from it. As with
everything else in nature, everything is not what it seems. Looking at a
situation from different angles, using a different lens, always reveals some
hidden truths. There can be a number of ways to assess the 2022 elections
forecast. We can rant about it, analyze the astrological methods used, or
discuss it philosophically to separate perennial truths from passing trends.
Ranting
As a voter, I could rant about the results of the elections.
In the Philippines, whenever a politician loses, he or she will likely say that
there was cheating involved. But May 2022 was a bit unusual. There are a lot of
questionable incidents about this election, including the huge amount of money withdrawn from banks in the Ilocos region, a fact stated by Comelec
Commissioner George Garcia himself. There were stories of
voting machine failures, SD card errors, ballots from Tondo found in empty lots
in Cavite and myriad reports of vote-buying. Many voters, especially senior
citizens, were not able to feed their ballots by themselves into the voting
machine. Yet the voting hours were not extended despite the number of Filipinos
who were not able to vote because of machine failures.
The list can go on and on, but Vice President Leni Robredo
has chosen to shift her energy into the formation of Angat Buhay Foundation, so
ranting about what happened may not be the best course of action. Nebulous
Neptune was emphasized in the sky by its conjunction with Jupiter in the sign
Pisces, in the first half of 2022 until May 11. Yet, the speed at which the
supposed winners were announced does not speak of crystal-clear clarity.
Neptune tends to make things unclear; there seems to be a disconnect here.
A Question of Method
In terms of astrological procedures, there are two points in
consideration. One method is the study of the natal chart of the candidates,
and the other is the interpretation of the mundane charts.
The problem that astrologers in the Philippines encounter is
the lack of correct birth data. To draw a full astrological chart, we need the
exact time of birth. We have experimented with rectifying the birth charts of
candidates, but without personal interaction with those involved, the resultant
charts remain simply as intelligent speculation. Majority of the astrologers
who studied this election bravely worked on the natal charts, aware of this
limitation, and proceeded to draw a conclusion just to test different
forecasting methods.
Astrology is a form of proto science, concepts built around
certain universally proven/accepted principles are used to make projections
into the future. When the correct time of birth is in the hands of astrologers,
they can revisit their work and arrive at the most accurate re-assessment of
what happened Astrologers, like weather forecasters, are more concerned about
protecting the people from a devastating storm.
Mundane astrology methods are based on the interpretation of
the Aries Ingress chart, computed at the beginning of the astrological year,
which takes place around March 19 during the Vernal Equinox. What can happen
during the election can also be gleaned from this chart.
I previously thought that mundane charts are more fated than
natal charts because the free will of individuals is supposed to be stronger
than that of the collective. I anchored my forecast on the Ingress chart of
2022, which clearly stated that the opposition party was stronger, hence Leni
Robredo, being the leader of the Opposition, would win.
With a battery of techniques, astrologers do not stop with
the fact that a forecast is inaccurate, and therefore, useless. What was wrong
with the forecast can also give insights into what was wrong with the choices
made. There is a meaning to all of this. This brings us to the importance of
the philosophical approach.
Philosophizing: On fate and free will
First of all, forecasting is not a competition. Astrologers
make pronouncements about the future, not to be proven correct but to map out
what is in store for us once a certain trajectory of historical forces is set
in motion. This writer has been emphasizing that the true purpose of astrology
is not to predict but to provide meaning to seemingly chaotic or unrelated
events in the world.
Did Robredo really lose in the elections? Looking at it from
a bigger perspective, the Philippines lost more than she did. The period from
2020 until 2023 is supposed to be a new beginning for the country. The
conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in December 2020 was like the hands of the
cosmic clock at zero point. It heralds a new period lasting about 200 years,
which is symbolized by Aquarius, the sign of technology, social media, the
masses, science, and yes, even trolls. The chart of the Philippines itself also
speaks of the beginning of a new 75-year cycle.
The beginning period is always an opportunity to set things
right; to let go of the past and start anew. That was the promise of a Robredo
presidency. With a degree in law and economics, not belonging to a political
dynasty and having a clean track record, she was the most qualified of all the
candidates. But apparently, 31M Filipinos have chosen a vestige of the past. A
Marcos presidency is not about the future or starting with a clean slate: it is
the continuation of the past and resurrection of the old patterns, not to
mention
the return of the old oligarchs. A quate from Imee Marcos is
most telling: "What's most important to us is, of course, our name, the
family name that has become so controversial, and so difficult at times to
bear."
Why do astrologers fail?
The answer is simple. Astrologers believe that there is
fate, which means some events are predictable. Major events in our lives and
the scope and the definition of one's success are written in the stars.
Astrologers read and interpret the stars. This is one hidden fact of nature,
the foundation stone of astrology. Various methods were developed throughout the ages to show the unfolding of fate in one's life. The same is true
with the fate of nations. However, not everything is set in stone because there
is free will. An individual, despite having known what the Daughters of Fate
have set for them, may choose something that is contrary to it.
A forecast is not just a forecast, and even if it does not
unfold, it remains a guidepost for those who will eventually find themselves
lost and have to find their way back towards their fate. This usually comes
after one has suffered enough to realize that their minds have been clouded,
that they failed to see the Light in the Dark.
From an article published in Santelmo Magazine Issue #1. June 30, 2022.
Comments
Post a Comment