click on chart for larger clearer view October 8, 2009 a group of Spiritual Warriors entered a sweat lodge. A couple of hours of intense heat and no air left 2 people dead, and a 3rd died a week later. Yesterday he was charged with manslaughter. What in the world happened? The leader is a man named James Arthur Ray, author of numerous books, appeared on Oprah, has led this kind of thing for years. This group had an extreme wilderness experience, including sleeping in the desert and fasting for 36 hours. They returned to the main lodge, were served a breakfast buffet, and then at 3 PM 50+ people entered a plastic covered "sweat lodge". OK, let's stop right there. I don't know much about this sort of thing, but a fast (including no or very little water) followed by a big meal followed by an hours long sweat lodge?? 50+ people in the dark in extreme heat, while he waited outside?? What was he thinking? So I drew up the chart. I only know his date of birth, so this is a natural chart, and while he is a New Moon child, we don't know the exact degree of his Moon. The outer circle is for 5 PM, when he called a halt and the group pulled out two dying participants.
So, he invited people to pay a ton of money ($9-$10,000) for a spiritual experience. He led people into a situation for which he did not have enough knowledge or training. He put them into a dangerous situation using a make believe version of a real sweat lodge (the real thing is made of BREATHABLE materials, not plastic tarps, and would never have 50 absolute beginners inside). And then he sat outside while people became not just uncomfortable, but ill unto death.
The first thing I noticed is his new Moon in Sag, and Mercury/Saturn conjunct in Sag. Honesty, integrity and getting all the details right are what I would expect. Venus in Capricorn. Please explain to me how this translates into someone who didn't do his homework. He always has Sag Sun square Pluto in Virgo and transiting Pluto set that off exactly. Again, to me this would show a person who has great intensity AND integrity. How in the world could he have failed in his role as protector like this? I kept looking, cast the progressed chart for the day, not much to see, just pMars conjunct Saturn. Again highlighting responsibility.
OK, here is something else. Progressed Jupiter changed signs just a couple of months before this tragedy, for the first time and only time in his life. It left Libra and entered Scorpio, and all year it is making an exact aspect to his Sun. So I began to focus on Jupiter in the natal chart, since it is the ruler of Sag. His natal Jupiter is 22 Libra. In the sky on that day were Chiron, Neptune, Uranus and Venus all at 22 or 23 degrees. Transiting Jupiter was trine transiting Sun that day. The Moon set it off, creating a transiting grand trine at that exact time. And all were within 1 degree of his Mercury, creating a kite formation. Could he have been in a trance, having an out of body experience, or just so deeply in meditation that he was actually unaware of the situation? Any other suggestions? Sure seems odd.
As soon as it turns direct it forms a wonderful helpful aspect to Saturn. Don't let all that drive dissipate, look for ways to make it more productive. Saturn can help you focus your intention.
