My attempt at divining the outcome of the vote on Scottish independence next week, Thursday, September 18, 2014, yielded the following astrological symbolism:
Mercury in Aquarius in the 10th House
This symbolism implies that the ascendant or “rising sign” is Taurus since Aquarius is the tenth sign from Taurus.
Thus, the astrological symbolism we need to interpret to divine the outcome of the vote on Scottish independence is:
Taurus rising with Mercury in the 10th house in Aquarius
Taurus: Zodiac Symbol Bull; Zodiac Element Earth; Zodiac Quality Fixed; Sign Ruler Venus
Flying Mercury (late 16th-century) by Giambologna
Aquarius: Zodiac Symbol Water-Bearer; Zodiac Element Air; Zodiac Quality Fixed; Sign Ruler Saturn
My recourse to the symbolism of deities or divine beings in the Hindu pantheon yielded the sacred figure of sage Kapila, the founder of the great Sāṃkhya (500 – 200 BCE) system of metaphysics in Indian philosophy, a system whose keynote is the liberation or independence of the Puruṣa, or soul, or individual consciousness, from its “bondage” to prakriti or nature, a “bondage” which is the function of the soul’s erroneous identification with prakriti or nature, including its identification with the physical body.
Watercolor painting on paper of sage Kapila, the founder of the Sāṃkhya (500 – 200 BCE) school of Indian philosophy
We must first consider the astrological symbolism of the rising sign Taurus and the 10th house Aquarius.
Taurus is a fixed sign indicating that the present status of Scotland is “fixed” or stable, i.e., this symbolism points to its present and past entrenched condition in the United Kingdom.
Taurus also indicates the earth element and this symbolizes the strength of the forces of conservation of its present status of entrenchment in the UK, of the status quo.
This is accurate because there is significant opposition to independence from the UK. The latest ICM poll for the Guardian newspaper shows 42 % opposed to independence from the UK , 40 % in favor of independence, and 17 % undecided.
However, it is interesting to note that in Vedic astrology, Taurus is a prsthodaya sign, or a sign which rises with its hind parts first, indicating “success in matters of destructive, separative, or disintegrating nature“. Independence from the UK is a matter of separation.
Aquarius is also a fixed sign, but it indicates the element of air symbolizing the forces of change from Scotland’s present entrenchment in the UK.
It is remarkable that the astrological symbolism of Aquarius has manifested in this divination on the vote on Scottish independence because the great English astrologer William Lilly (1602 – 1681) writes in his work Introduction to Astrology (1647) that:
“this sign (Aquarius) has rule over affairs of state in England...”
Portrait of Lilly, aged 45, now housed in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford
The upcoming vote on Scottish independence is clearly an “affair of state” in England!
In Babylonian mythology, Aquarius was associated with the god Ea (corresponding in Sumerian mythology to the god Enki who is depicted with waters flowing from his shoulders) who was often depicted with a vase overflowing with water.
It is astonishing to note that the god Enki was also associated with the planet Mercury in Sumerian astrology. In this divination, Mercury occupies the 10th house in Aquarius!
Enki (the god Ea in Babylonian mythology) one of the four primal Gods in Sumerian mythology
The main symbolism of Aquarius in Vedic or Indian astrology is “a water pot emptied on the shoulder of a man”. This pervasive Aquarius symbolism of the emptying of water from a container suggests escape or liberation from confinement or containment. The water escapes from the confines of the pot or pitcher and achieves its freedom of movement and flow.
I am inclined to interpret this symbolism of Aquarius as a sign of impending Scottish independence from the UK.
The fact that, in this divination, the 10th house falls in Aquarius (in astrology the 10th is the astrological “house” or sector governing status, including political status, and issues of state and statehood) only lends further support to this interpretation in favor of impending Scottish independence.
The Indian astrologer K. S. Krishnamurti (1902 – 1978) had an interesting view on the nature of the 10th house in the context of issues of marriage, partnership, alliances, unions, etc.
He argued that the 12th from any given astrological “house” (there are 12 astrological houses or domains corresponding to the 12 signs, but the location of each house in a sign is determined by the ascendant or the rising sign) undermines the significations of that house.
Indian astrologer K. S. Krishnamurti (1902 – 1978)
Thus, the 3rd house is the 12th from the 4th house. Hence, the 3rd house undermines the affairs signified by the 4th house. For instance, the 4th house signifies one’s home or residence. Since the 3rd house undermines the affairs of the 4th house, the 3rd house signifies change of residence or loss of residence.
The 10th house signifies employment. The 9th house is the 12th from the 10th house. So, the 9th house undermines the affairs of the 10th house and signifies, among other things, loss of employment.
In terms of K.S. Krishnamurti’s astrological analysis, the 10th house is the 12th from the 11th house. The 11th house signifies unions, alliances, partnerships, friendships, associations, inclusion or incorporation of an entity into a larger group, and so forth. Since the 10th house is the 12th from the 11th house, it undermines alliance, partnership, inclusion or incorporation, etc., and signifies separation and severance of an existing relationship.
Hence, the key symbolism of the 10th house in this divination also lends support to my astrological interpretation in favor of impending Scottish independence from the UK.
The remaining critical astrological symbolism to interpret is that of Mercury in the 10th house.
Mercury is a rapidly moving planet. This suggests that matters are in flux and rapid change in relation to the upcoming vote on independence. Since Mercury is also an elusive planet and signifies inconstancy and uncertainty, we may expect to see some fluctuations in the percentages of “Yes” and “No” votes, and uncertainty due to the percentage of undecided voters, right up to the day of the vote on independence.
Mercury is also the “owner” of the dual signs of Gemini and Virgo. Gemini, of course, is symbolized by twins, duality, rather than a single entity. This suggests that the outcome of the independence vote will be “twins” or two entities, Scotland and England, rather than one entity, the UK.
Mercury is the chief astrological signifier of communication, including propaganda. Hence, the nature of the communication, inclusive of propaganda, directed at the “Yes” and “No” camps will play a decisive role in shaping the outcome. The current propaganda against a “Yes” vote is likely to backfire because of its fear tactics and emphasis on the threat of economic woes facing Scotland if it votes in favor of independence from the UK.
Mercury also signifies commerce and business undertakings and controversies pertaining to them. It is not surprising that issues of commerce and controversies pertaining to the actions of business groups have taken center stage in the debates on Scottish independence.
I think that Mercury, a signifier of the element of air, in Aquarius, a sign also representing the element of air, accentuates the symbolism of air in this divination. This indicates that the winds of change and instability, in the form of Scottish independence, are about to strike “affairs of state in England”, to use William Lilly’s description of one of the significations of the sign Aquarius.
It is also interesting to note that in terms of the astrological transit of planets through signs, according to Vedic or Indian astrology, on Thursday, September 18, 2014, the Sun will be in Virgo, the sign of Mercury, and the Moon will be in Gemini, also a sign of Mercury!
I think that this is a strong portent of the realization of the symbolic significations of Mercury, all pointing to Scottish independence, I have delineated.
Let us consider, in closing, the symbolism of sage Kapila in this divination.
As I observed at the beginning of this piece, in the Hindu pantheon, the sage Kapila holds the status of the creator of the Sāṃkhya (500 – 200 BCE) system of metaphysics in Indian philosophy. The central goal of this system of metaphysics is liberation or independence of the Puruṣa or soul from its subjection or “bondage” to prakriti or nature.
At the beginning of the Sāṁkhyakārikā (400 – 500 CE), the central text of this school of metaphysical philosophy, there is an incisive discussion and defense, against powerful objections, of the possibility and feasibility of attaining liberation or independence.
Further, the Sāṃkhya system of metaphysics is dualist in that it countenances two eternal “categories” or “principles”, Puruṣa or soul and prakriti or nature.
I think that the symbolism of dualism in this context also shows that the outcome of the vote on Scottish independence next week is the existence of two nations, Scotland and England, rather than one United Kingdom.
Thus, the symbolism of sage Kapila shows that independence or liberation is not only the topic of this divination, but also that it is the impending outcome of the vote on Scottish independence next Thursday, September 18, 2014.
Stone Circle, Calanais, Scotland
The Art Of Astrological Divination 
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