New Moon in Leo / Total Solar Eclipse — August 21, 2017, 18:30 UT

The New Moon at 28+ degrees of Leo was the second New Moon in the sign this year. The New Moon was also a total solar eclipse, which was visible in the United States, from coast to coast. The eclipse was in conjunction with a trans-Neptunian object 346889 Rhiphonos. Rhiphonos is in the early degrees of Virgo, so this was an out of sign conjunction.

In astrology, even if the eclipse is not visible where you live, it has an impact nevertheless, and the effect can sometimes be felt already beforehand. In Finland it manifested in the worst possible way on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, when the first terror attack in our country took place.

A Moroccan asylum seeker stabbed several people at a busy market place in the city of Turku. The attack was aimed at women. Two of the stabbed women died, eight people were injured. Two of the wounded are men who tried to help the victims. There would have been more casualties without the interference of some brave citizens, both native and immigrants. They risked their own lives when they heroically intervened in the assault. There was Rhiphonos working.

In Greek mythology Rhiphonos was one of the twelve Dionysian Centaurs who drew the chariot of the infant Dionysus. Zeus had set them to guard his son Dionysus against Hera’s anger. Dionysus’s mother was a mortal woman, with whom Zeus had fallen in love and had an affair. The Dionysian Centaurs were originally sprites, but when jealous Hera found out about their assistance, she transformed them into ox-horned centaurs.

The leaders of our country have stated that hate must not be answered with hate. Nonetheless, a pizza place in Turku and a barber shop in Helsinki were attacked during the weekend. A journalist, who wrote an article about one of the immigrants who helped the victims, received an avalanche of hate mail. Hate speech is gushing in the social media. The sense of safety has been disrupted among natives as well as the immigrants and asylum seekers.

On Monday morning on my way to work, I noticed that there were no immigrants at all on the bus, or on the streets downtown. Obviously they are afraid of leaving their homes. In addition to the feelings of horror and sorrow, which the Friday’s attack aroused in me, it was a great cause of distress for me to realize and admit to myself that in Finland, those who have come here seeking asylum, need to fear us Finns. There is a lot of racism in Finland, and we should not shut our eyes to it.

The Islamic Council of Finland (Sine) has condemned Friday’s attack and said in a statement: “Violence against innocent civilians – whether it happens in Turku, Barcelona or Charlottesville – violates the basic principles of Islam and all other religions, as well as general human values.”

We need to do everything we can to prevent terrorism. President Niinistö said on Tuesday, that Finland has the right to deport those who seek asylum without a valid cause, and that opposing judiciary’s decisions shake the entire social order. The state leaders should also clearly condemn racism and note that racism is a crime, so that we all could get our sense of safety back.

Every New Moon is a time of new beginnings. An eclipse is more powerful than an ordinary New Moon. An eclipse offers us a moment to pause, to notice the matter which calls our attention, and to choose a new path if necessary. The presence of Rhiphonos supports us in this.

Leave a Reply