World events tend to provide especially clear examples of astrological patterns. The chart for a declaration of war, an economic crash or a terrorist attack will normally contain fewer variables and mixed signals than natal astrology. This is because an individual person is generally a combination of a wide variety of personality traits and influences that manifest over many decades, but (for example) the morning of September 11, 2001 in New York City is primarily a snapshot of a single major occurrence.
While viewing the chart for the recent Paris terrorist attacks* (on November 13, 2015), I noticed an aspect of less than three degrees between Mars and the nodes (i.e. Rahu and Ketu)**. The September 11, 2001 chart, analyzed in this post, includes an aspect of less than one degree between Mars and the nodes.
Since I wondered how consistent this sort of placement was in the charts of major terrorist attacks, I looked up the July 7, 2005 London attacks, as well. The day of the London attacks included Mars aspecting the nodes by less than one-and-a-half degrees. To put this information in context, an aspect of three degrees or less between Mars and the nodes only occurs for an average of less than two weeks per year.
November 13, 2015 Paris Terrorist Attacks
July 7, 2005 London Terrorist Attacks
Mars relates to violence and warfare, while the nodes represent extremes. Ketu (the south node of the Moon) is the planet of traditional cultures and ideologies, while Rahu (the north node of the Moon) represents complex modern technology – which would include bombs, for example – along with mass hysteria and cults.
Of course, Mars also provides us with bravery and heroism, Ketu is the indicator for enlightenment and Rahu represents valuable medical and technological advances. Every planet can manifest in either a positive or destructive way. However, a tight aspect between Mars and the nodes can be especially challenging, as the energy from action-oriented Mars and the obsessive push-pull of Rahu and Ketu is a potentially combustible mix.
*Another significant feature in the Paris chart is debilitated Venus aspecting Mars and the nodes. This represents the target of the attack, which was a concert hall. Venus is the planet of the arts, so committing an act of extreme violence during a musical performance is a direct assault upon Venusian principles, which normally make life more beautiful and pleasurable.
**For those unfamiliar with the rotation of Rahu and Ketu, they are always 180 degrees from one another, so any planet that is conjunct one of the nodes also aspects the other node by opposition. This is why, for the purposes of this article, I have usually referred to a tight aspect between Mars and the nodes instead of specifying between Rahu and Ketu.
