Note to Readers: Egypt’s snorting bull, Hosni Mubarak, has stepped down as president, setting off wild celebrations. Knowing the story was likely to move early today, here’s how I called the chart as of 9 this morning. The real clue in the chart was that Venus — who represented Mubarak — was conjunct Pluto, which is an astrological way of saying that he’s a done deal. Mars conjunct Nessus suggested that his treatment of his own generals was going to come back to bite him on the ass, and it was indeed the military that tipped the power in favor of the people. Here is some confirmation that the U.S. was moving resources in the 5th fleet toward the Suez Canal. As I mentioned at the end of the letter that follows, the situation is far from resolved by this, as the Moon waxes toward full phase and the momentum continues. This is the ‘extra’ lead from today’s edition of Planet Waves’ edition for subscribers. –efc
Dear Friend and Reader:
After yesterday’s very strange day in Egypt — beginning with early reports by numerous supposedly reliable sources that Mubarak would resign and ending with him transferring power to Vice President Omar Suleiman, but keeping the title of president — nobody can say for sure what is happening in Egypt. Today is expected to be the biggest day of protest since the demonstrations began 18 days ago.
Outrage at Mubarak’s refusal to actually quit has pushed the country to the point of explosion.
As we go to press Friday morning, it seems like everything rests in the hands of the military, which is holding space between the Egyptian people and Mubarak, whose ouster they are demanding. His refusal to step down seems calculated to push a showdown between the people and the army. Though the military is in a sense neutral, “That neutrality helps the crowds and hurts Mr. Mubarak,” historian Juan Cole said on Thursday night’s Rachel Maddow Show.
This morning there were news reports that ‘Al Arabiya television reported that Mubarak and his family had left Cairo to an unknown destination from a military airbase in the suburbs’.