Inaugurations are made for divination. The Latin word augur—meaning “to read the signs”—lies at the heart of the word “inauguration.” This ritualized ceremony recalls a time when humanity more consciously mingled its fate with gods, when in ancient Rome, diviners routinely chose auspicious dates for its leaders to claim their power. Augury helped the incoming administration gather celestial blessings and momentum.
When dates are fixed (as is true of our inaugurations), diviners wait until the ceremonial moment. We read the signs during the inauguration to see what the heavens are thinking. January 20, 2017 isn’t a date an astrologer would have picked. The two most traditionally malevolent energies of the horoscope—Mars and Saturn—are locked in a challenging square. Of this combination, Ebertin says:
Harmful or destructive. Concentrated energy either outwardly expressed as violence or inwardly shown as destructive power, hardness, harshness, or bitterness. … Tests of strength, disputes, separations.
I thought of this on the night before the inauguration, watching Trump and Melania make their entrance at the Lincoln Memorial inaugural concert; they descended the long concrete steps (Melania in heels) to a Rolling Stones song, Heart of Stone. This is a ballad about a cold-hearted man who likes to knock women over and make them cry.
Diviners, of course, prefer natural signs. As inauguration day approached, and the Mars/Saturn aspect became exact, what were the auguries? The ancients would have scanned the skies for lightning, thunderclaps, or the flight and cries of birds. I tend to find my omens in the daily news. I learn a lot about astrology this way. Rather than predicting what something will bring, I notice what actually happens when it arrives.
Sometimes omens are bizarre events (like the birth of a white buffalo or an eight-legged calf). More typically they show themselves in archetypal patterns. On the morning the Mars/Saturn square was exact, two powerful images appeared on the news, suggesting an archetype that is very familiar to all Tarot readers.
First, in an Italian ski resort at the foot of the Gran Sasso Mountain, after a series of earthquakes, an avalanche buried a four-star hotel, killing at least fifteen people. Then, in Iran, fire struck the iconic Plasco Building (once the tallest in Tehran). Onlookers watched in horror as the historic structure collapsed and killed thirty firefighters. It was reminiscent of the Twin Tower disaster and the Tower Card.
Appropriately, this is the Mars card of the Tarot. It depicts a burning tower toppling against a black sky, as people look on in horror and others fly through the air. “It’s the end of the world!” this card screams. In the weeks leading up to the inauguration, the Tower Card has been rippling through the national conversation. Among many Hillary supporters, Trump’s election has felt like the end of the world. Some saw Russian interference in the US election as a form of terrorism equivalent to the Twin Towers being brought down on 9/11.
To link The Tower to the inauguration, however, we’d want to see this archetype express itself during the very ceremony. Would someone take a tumble on the dais? Would one or more parade bleachers collapse? No. The Tower arrived in the president’s own speech. Its words, (ironically) crafted (or so Trump tweeted) at his luxury resort Mar-a-Lago, are the darkest in presidential memory.
America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay… rusted out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation… mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities… we all bleed the same red blood…. The American carnage stops right here and stops right now.
Trump’s rhetoric seemed like an odd choice, given Trump inherits a US economy that performed better under Obama than it did under all but one of his five most recent predecessors. But these are strange times. Whatever side you’re on, we can all agree, that the political system hasn’t been working well for anyone except the elite and powerful. Democracy herself is the tumbling Tower. Trump—who bears Mars on his Ascendant and who has an obvious love for towers—is an oddly brilliant standard-bearer for the times. The world is ending. What’s called for now is imagination. After the Tower falls, a new world begins.
The Moon was in Mars-ruled Scorpio for the inauguration and for what happened on the day after. Scorpio rules power, destruction, and rebirth. The Tower card looks scary when it appears in a reading. But in most cases, the worst has already happened. Typically, the Tower is already in flames for the person who pulls this card. The blessing is recognizing this. It happened. And now keep watching for signs. On the day after the inauguration, there was a new omen–not blood red, but pink. We saw a pink sea of people in cities around the world gathering as advocates for sacred feminine values like compassion, social inclusion, and women’s health. Daughters, mothers, sons and fathers marched, declaring themselves protectors for the rights of all life on this planet.
Often the world brings something better than our dreams. Instead of electing the first female president to lead us—we empowered ourselves to lead. This is the Aquarian Age. Democracy herself woke up through us. The people are now engaged. We’re paying attention. We’re gathering locally. We’re calling congress. The world transformed on Saturday, January 21. Something confident and exuberant rippled through the compassionate collective. If you felt this, and still feel it, amplify this vibration. Let it continue to sound throughout the energetic community WE inaugurated that day. We will need this nectar in the weeks and months ahead as each of us keeps marching. Let’s protect democracy and the Great Mother’s values—Moon values—in this new world, where we hope everyone will feel welcome.
As a start, you can collect the phone numbers of your senators and representatives, state and national. This info is easy to Google and calling has an impact. The staff notices when the phones keep ringing. Call regularly. Claim your power. Act.
Sign up for the Women’s March 10 Actions in the first 100 days.
Somebody wise sang I shall lay down my sword and shield down by the river-side. I was very young then and went down by the river-side to lay my own sword and shield . Then enjoyed the best swim ever. Is there a water card in the Tarot?
Dana, your article leaves me with hope. In the meantime, we’ll keep watching the news, try to be informed and aware and keep reminding our elected officials (congressmen and senators) to do the right thing. Very interesting and well written article.
Dana,
I have adored your beautiful words for decades in Mountain Astrologer. You are so special!!
Thank you so much for sharing your exquisite vision with us.
As an astrologer you have guided and inspired me with your unique views, as a writer you have thrilled me with your evocative and insightful prose and as a fellow human, and American woman you make me proud to raise my voice alongside yours!!!
Let’s do this!~!!!!!
I loved the headline I saw somewhere – “She, the people”.
Thank you for this awesome augering Yes, I did feel that ripple in the collective as the energy signatures shifted. Nice to have it expressed so clearly.
Dana,
you’re a great woman! I’ve always liked your writing, and this has thrilled me!
We HAVE TO STAND UP and show who we are and what we want (and what we
don’t want), yes humanity is waking up!
Love
Fucking wow.
Thanks Dana, you’re right, its up to us to defend what Hillary worked for her entire life – equal rights. Interestingly nearly the same number of marchers showed up as the number of votes that gave her the majority vote. Showing up now to tear down the walls Trump wants to build – he does love memorializing himself- can heal the great divide and restore wholeness to humanity.
….”we empowered ourselves to lead. Democracy woke up through us.”
Dana, your comments here touched me deeply and it felt like a bright light illuminated the darkness of this whole mess.
Yes! We did wake up. I woke up..
I love ❤️ astrology!
This was a powerful and thought-provoking read. Thanks, Dana!
Thank you Dana for this reminder. There has been a transfer of power. From the old adage that “we the people” “elect” a leader, to the nuance of eliciting leadership within ourselves and that ignited collective of discovery how we are lead, we do so with clarity, and transform into new worldly experiences. Blessings.
Well said! Yes, the world was transformed on January 21.
We the people realized that we can transform any situation.