Saints or Sinners - A Case for Munakara

By Joy Usher

 Source: Casey Horner on Unsplash

“Vox Populi, Vox Dei –
 The voice of the people is the voice of God
 * Elon Musk, December 2022

The following is a taste of what is to come in Joy Usher’s book on ‘Munakara’ to be released early 2024. If this is anything to go by, it will be a very interesting read. Regardless of what you think of either Elon Musk or Julian Assange, they are very interesting characters who have made, and who will continue to make, a crucial impression on this world. This is Joy’s third book, following on from A Tiny Universe: Astrology and the Thema Mundi Chart and A Tiny Universe’s Companion: Popular Techniques in Traditional Astrology.

Munakara is a word used to describe a condition arrived at through a particular sequence of planetary rulerships. The word is possibly derived from the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan, where 11th century Iranian scholar and polymath, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, travelled extensively for part of his adult life. Munakara is pronounced “moon kai” in the Punjabi language, so to be true to its original essence, this pronunciation is my preference when speaking on the topic. Munakara is a two-step process based on the planetary sect principle that each of the seven original planets can be divided into either the diurnal or the nocturnal sect. This is determined by whether a planet’s qualities (hot, cold, wet and dry) are compatible with, or modified by, their belonging to one of the two sect divisions.

Munakara (Contention)
Source: in al-Biruni’s Elements in the Art of Astrology, 1934, and 2006

The astrological source for munakara comes from al-Biruni’s The Book of Instruction in the Elements of the Art of Astrology, translated by R. Ramsey Wright in 1934. The paragraph heading is numbered Notation #497 in this edition of Elements in the Art of Astrology. (1)

The second image is from a more recent publication of al-Biruni’s book by the same title, published by The Astrology Center of America in 2006, and edited by David R. Roell. The 2006 version has removed the first part of al-Biruni’s writings on mathematical equations and astronomy, and uses a modern font which is much easier on the eye. However, the text has not been altered, and for this reason, I have included the 2006 notation on munakara.

Munakara, or ‘contention’ by its English translation, is a combination of two basic tenets in astrology: the allocation of the twelve signs of the zodiac to the seven visible planets PLUS the division of planets into their planetary sect preference.

Sign Rulership Wheel Plus Planetary Sect Table
Source: provided by Joy Usher

The rules of contention are determined by the first level of Essential Dignity known as Domicile or simply, Rulership, shown in the circle above (al-Biruni’s Notation #440). Added to sign rulership is the Table of Sect, defined by al-Biruni’s Notation #386 which states that the Sun, Jupiter and Saturn are diurnal planets, whilst the Moon, Venus and Mars are nocturnal planets. Although al-Biruni uses a different system for Mercury’s sect preference, the general consensus amongst traditional writers is that Mercury’s sect status is determined by its position relative to the Sun. Mercury rising before the Sun is diurnal, but Mercury rising after the Sun places it as a member of the nocturnal sect.

Finding munakara in the chart

Diurnal Munakara Sequence: Saturn in Contention
Source: provided by Joy Usher

The first step towards finding munakara is simply to select any of the seven visible planets – Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, or Moon – and note its sign in the chart. As the example shows (Fig. 3) if Saturn is in Scorpio, its sign belongs to Mars. If we move to the next step, and look at Mars (Saturn’s dispositor) and find Mars in Sagittarius, then its dispositor will be Jupiter, the owner of this sign. This means the sect barrier has been crossed twice – from diurnal planet (Saturn), to nocturnal planet (Mars), and then back to another diurnal planet (Jupiter). The original planet, Saturn, is munakara and deals with the issues raised by being in contention.

To prevent the possibility of munakara for the diurnal planets – Sun, Jupiter, Saturn, or diurnal Mercury – they would need to be EITHER in a sign of their own rulership (Leo, Sagittarius/Pisces, Capricorn/Aquarius, or Gemini/Virgo), OR be located in a sign belonging to another diurnal planet from the same Sect Preference. For instance, Jupiter in Leo is in the sign belonging to the Sun – no potential munakara sequence – as the Sun, Jupiter’s dispositor, is also a diurnal planet.

If a diurnal planet is not disposited by another diurnal planet, then there is a further step in the process of completing the sequence to see if munakara has occurred for any particular planet under examination. For instance, if the Sun, Jupiter or Saturn is in a sign belonging to one of the nocturnal planets (Moon, Venus, or Mars) then you will need to look for their dispositor. If the nocturnal planet (the dispositor of the first sign) is itself, in a sign belonging to a different diurnal planet, then your original planet will be in the state of munakara.

Nocturnal Munakara Sequence: Mars in Contention
Source: provided by Joy Usher

Likewise, a nocturnal planet can also be in the state of munakara. For instance, Mars in Virgo may be a possibility for munakara if Mercury is in a diurnal position in the chart (travelling in front of the Sun), AND it is in a sign belonging to a different nocturnal planet which is not Mars, i.e. the Moon (Fig. 4).

The impact of munakara on a planet’s disposition and behaviour

The English translation of munakara provides some insight into how a planet might experience this condition. Contention implies friction, agitation, dispute or dissent, and even though a planet can be in otherwise good condition – in exaltation or even in full sect dignity (‘hayz’) – it experiences the discomfort of being in a state of perpetual wariness. A planet in contention is constantly weighing up its options, is ever on standby for rebellion, dissent or incoming hostility. This endless movement from defence to offence may be due to the flow of incompatibility which exists between a planet and its dispositor’s sect preference (diurnal to nocturnal or vice versa), and then further sensitized by the secondary dispositor being in a similar situation. The fact remains that the planet who should be seeing to its needs (its sign’s dispositor) is also under stress, and therefore unable or unwilling, to provide its normal support and direction. This situation creates a sense of chaos or instability for the first planet – the one in munakara – who is in the line of fire.

For instance, Saturn in a state of munakara, or contention, is hyper-sensitive to any criticism perceived to be undermining the individual’s authority or questioning the validity of their actions or statements. Saturn values integrity and if the individual feels this is under threat, particularly from those in positions of authority or control, it will react through withdrawal or micro-management, both of which are Saturn’s own version of fight or flight. Suspicion and cynicism can be the cloak that Saturn in contention wears in order to protect itself from harm, and to buy time in which to plan a suitable defence against future attacks. The ruling planet of Saturn’s sign will give indications as to where it fears its greatest weakness lies, and each of the nocturnal planets will differ in its expression and its effect on Saturn’s munakara.

Elon Musk and Julian Assange

The example charts I have chosen to demonstrate al-Biruni’s technique are two men who were born five days apart, birthed in different Southern Hemisphere countries, and whose larger-than-life destinies have raised them into god-like status. The rise and fall in their individual reputations has been spectacular over the past dozen years, and depending on an observer’s point of view, has branded them as either a villain or a super-hero.

BiWheel for Elon Musk and Julian Assange
Source: Astrodatabank

The elder of the two (Fig. 5, biwheel’s inner chart), belongs to business magnate Elon Musk, who was born on 28th June 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa. The younger man by five days (Fig. 5, biwheel’s outer chart) belongs to WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange, born on 3rd July 1971 in Townsville, Australia. The bi-wheel shows the level of similarities between the two charts’ planetary degrees, with the greatest separation being between the degrees of their luminaries. Their Cancer Suns are five degrees apart (to represent the five day difference in birth dates), and the two Moons’ are in close sextile aspects with Musk’s Moon in Virgo and Assange’s Moon in fall in the sign of Scorpio.

Both men became prominent in the news in 2010 and have remained in the limelight since then. Elon Musk joined Twitter with gusto in 2009 and became a prolific user, steadily accumulating followers to his account until claiming over 100 million as of June 2022 when he was in the throes of buying the social media platform. Julian Assange came to the public’s attention in 2010 with the release by WikiLeaks’ series of secret military documents and the collateral murder video published in April 2010, with all information fed to Assange by US Intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. Assange’s international arrest warrant for sexually assault was issued by Swedish authorities on 18th November 2010.

In their own way, both men are outlaws: they move outside the laws of normal society, flaunt the rules, are unapologetic for their actions, and are mysterious in their motivations. They use social media platforms for self-promotion, to feed their own idealism, and to engender sensationalism amongst the masses. Musk bears the label of ‘the richest man in the world’ and therefore has license to say and do whatever he chooses, somehow carrying the seal of approval from the world of capitalism that fauns over excesses in wealth, power and shrewd business acumen. Assange, on the other hand, has fallen foul of several government agencies, particularly the US Government, as he continues to fight extradition to America to face numerous charges under their 1917 Espionage Act. Driven by the desire to make hidden agencies accountable for their actions has meant that Assange has forfeited his own freedom, and whilst he has a penchant for the limelight, the past dozen years have been difficult, restrictive, and damaging for his physical and mental health.

The most recently recorded connection between the two men (and perhaps the only public link) occurred on 4th December 2022 when Elon Musk posted a new Poll on Twitter, just four weeks after completing its purchase on 27th October 2022. Musk wrote

I am not expressing an opinion, but did promise to conduct this poll. Should Assange and (whistleblower) Snowden be pardoned?

From a base of 3.3 million Twitter responders, the poll results showed a resounding 80.5% answer of ‘Yes’ as opposed to 19.5% preference for ‘No’ as the answer to Musk’s question.

A Case for Munakara

Both Musk and Assange have a diurnal munakara planet and a nocturnal munakara planet – Jupiter and Mars – but their planets’ house placements and house rulerships differ in their natal charts. In both charts the two planets in contention are in aspect to one another: Jupiter in the fixed water sign, Scorpio, squares Mars in the fixed air sign, Aquarius. Most astrologers see little problem between the combination of these two planets, arguing that Jupiter raises Mars’ energy and the greater benefic bestows success on Mars’ endeavours. The Latin phrase found in the literary works of Virgil, Ovid, and Terence (aka Publius Terentius Afer) echoes this same sentiment: "audentes Fortuna iuvat" translates as “Fortune favours the bold”, “Fortune favours the brave”, and “Fortune favours the strong”. Statements made with grand gestures by a handsome stage hero surrounded by swooning women as he is about to go off to seek his destiny or meet his death.

 In a case of life mimics art, the Roman author and philosopher, Pliny the Elder, paraphrased from the classics, announcing, “fortuna iuvat: Pomponianum pete” – “Fortune favours the brave: head for Pomponianus”, when he took his fleet off to investigate the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, in the hope of saving his friend Pomponianus. Needless to say, things did not go well, and Pliny the Elder perished in his quest to rescue his friend.

Pliny should have been more cautious of traditional law regarding fortune (Jupiter) and bravery (Mars). Astrologically, the combination of Mars and Jupiter was a dire warning of danger, Jupiter most likely to accelerate Martian conflict, and the whole endeavour, however grand, was destined to end in disaster or tragedy. Their exaltation signs, Capricorn and Cancer, oppose one in the quintessential Thema Mundi chart and their contrasting natures result in an acrimonious relationship. Mars ruled wars, bloodshed and sudden death, whilst Jupiter represented the king, his court and his ability (or lack thereof) to rule his subjects with wisdom and tolerance. Connecting Mars and Jupiter through aspect was considered to be either dangerous for the ruling classes who risked losing their power, or indicative of a cruel and malevolent despot whose unpredictability wrought despair and ruin for the unfortunate subjects under their rule.

Elon Musk and Julian Assange’s Sequence for Diurnal Jupiter in Munakara
Source: provided by Joy Usher

Elon Musk and Julian Assange’s Sequence for Nocturnal Mars in Munakara
Source: provided by Joy Usher

The days of the divine right of kings are long gone, but insanely wealthy individuals like Elon Musk are monarchs without a crown, and inspired idealists like Julian Assange can be flawed in their reasoning. Both men are individuals capable of transforming into the unhinged zealot who wants to burn everything to create a brand new world. Jupiter adds recklessness and speed to Mars’ activities, denotes a touch of ruthlessness, and implies a lack of caution and false optimism when there is contact between the two planets. Musk and Assange’s sequences for Jupiter and Mars are shown (Figs. 6, 7), and in both men’s experiences the two contentious planets carry the seeds of dissention, scandal, rebellion, extremism, and the type of individuation that may lead to their self-destruction.

Jupiter in Munakara

Munakara Jupiter disposited by Mars can play the role of the dynamic philosopher, the extreme adventurer, or the conqueror basking in the spoils of war pursuing every advantage gained by their new position. Jupiter in contention may topple governments, forge a new philosophy or influence social trends, over-riding the laws, language and beliefs of those it has captured in its thrall. Often the outcome planet shows both the trigger, and the result achieved by the contentious planet, and with Saturn as the third planet in Jupiter’s sequence, there is a desire for great power, with control as the endgame.

First century astrologer, Claudius Ptolemy, lists each planet’s qualities in what he calls “the discrimination of the (planets’) peculiar properties” and says of the greater benefic:

Jupiter, if he should be lord alone, will thoroughly improve and benefit all things. Among mankind, in particular, this planet promotes honour, happiness, content, and peace, by augmenting all the necessaries and comforts of life, and all mental and bodily advantages. It induces also favours, benefits, and gifts emanating from royalty, and adds greater lustre to kings themselves, increasing their dignity and magnanimity: all men, in short, will share in the prosperity created by its influence.

Without the influence of Mars, munakara Jupiter may choose to avoid battle and instead prefer happiness, contentment, peace and the comforts of life. However, with Mars as dispositor, and Jupiter in contention, how can Jupiter enjoy these luxuries whilst others are suffering? Ultimately munakara Jupiter can no longer ignore Mars’ call and is forced to engage, to stand up for another’s rights, whether they be based on political views, power structures, economics, social, or religious freedoms.

The mastery of one’s intellectual acumen in social situations is another version of Jupiterian knowledge which incorporates creativity, credibility and personal presence. When Jupiter is in contention, there is a risk that the balance between these three qualities will be jeopardized by self-sabotage or over-confidence, when ‘give an inch, take a mile’ applies to Jupiter pushing the advantage to its limit. Assessing one’s social strength through factors not due to one’s efforts and beyond one’s control, such as physical attractiveness, youthfulness, inherited wealth, or pure good luck, can be foolhardy if time and circumstances reverse Fortuna’s favours. Likewise, relying on one’s reputation, popularity, wit or style to maintain social power can be munakara Jupiter’s undoing, especially if the risks involved are too far-fetched to guarantee success. The Establishment will not tolerate poor behaviour, undeserved arrogance, or a messiah complex if it believes the actions of an individual threaten the status quo of a society who will quickly replace one wunderkind for the next one in line.

In December 2022 Elon Musk posted four words on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, “Vox Populi, Vox Dei”: The Voice of the People is the Voice of God. What Musk failed to mention was that it was a phrase (deliberately taken out of context) from a letter by Alcuin written to Charlemagne in the year 798. Alcuin’s words were a warning, rather than a high-minded commandment claiming God’s approval. The full quote reads:

And those people should not be listened to who keep saying the voice of the people is the voice of God (Vox Populi, Vox Dei), since the riotousness of the crowd is always very close to madness.

Perhaps the story of Elon Musk’s phenomenal rise to fame and fortune - through the use of his two munakara planets - encapsulates our modern infatuation with strident voices promoting outlandish opinions, whilst at the same time, openly inciting the crowd to riotousness and madness.

Mars in Munakara

The word contention has two meanings. It can refer to disputes, friction, enmity or hostility, but it can also mean the passion to voice an opinion, to back a hypothesis, to follow a conviction, or make a statement affirming a personal belief regardless of others’ ridicule or opposition.

In astrology, contention is not a terrible disaster that one should fear if found in the chart. Rather, it is a special quirk that can provide challenges that help to determine the person you become in life. It acts like one microscopic grain of sand that followed by another, that once they become trapped in the folds of everyday life, have the potential over time to produce a metaphorical pearl in the individual’s character, one of great value and beauty borne from a lifetime of small irritations.

Munakara Mars can feel as though ‘the grit of life’ creates a double dose of irritation and contention often inflames those individuals with this quirk in their chart. Mars is not a planet designed for reason, calm or patience, instead preferring to go into battle fortified by its passion, courage and sometimes, obsession. When contentious Mars is forging ahead to meet a challenge, it must also watch its back, as ‘crossing boundaries’ means there is anxiety that someone close will betray them. To add contention to Mars by finding it in munakara status, is to take a planet that intrinsically knows the term ‘enemy territory’, and deliberately send it into a situation which is frightening, exhausting, or has insurmountable odds and to expect Mars to come out unharmed at the other end. Like a blood hound seeking prey, munakara Mars will ignore all danger or need for self-preservation and focus on nothing but the prize, however bloody and mangled it may be at the task’s completion.

Mars is constantly poised to go on the attack, so when circumstances present themselves, or controversies arise, then the other two planets in munakara Mars’ sequence need careful management. Otherwise Mars is inclined towards rushing in all directions like a rabid dog. Under thoughtful supervision Mars energy can be efficiently directed in a productive manner, rather than as a weapon of mass (or mess) destruction. Mars will use anything at its disposal as a weapon, and that includes its dispositor, whether it is control (Saturn), flattery and influence (Jupiter), powerful words and cunning plots (Mercury), or the bluff of authority (Sun) to gain advantage over its space. Its outcome planet, a second nocturnal companion will describe what Mars is protecting, or what power or advantage it expects to gain by its conquest. In this case, nocturnal Mercury is Mars’ outcome planet and both men’s IQ rating is well above the average mark of 100: Musk’s is reputed to be 155 whilst Assange’s IQ is believed to be above 170. Each man uses their higher intelligence for good and bad purpose and nocturnal Mercury will add to the myth of whether they are judged by future generations as Saints or Sinners.

Elon Musk: Jupiter in Munakara / Mars in Munakara

Elon Musk
Source: The Royal Society, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Natal Chart Elon Musk, Jupiter and Mars in Munakara
Source: Astrodatabank

On October 27 2022 Elon Musk strode into the Twitter Headquarters in San Francisco brandishing a bathroom sink and posting on his newly acquired platform,

Entering Twitter HQ – let that sink in!

In the year that followed Musk has gutted content moderation, restored accounts of previously banned extremists, and allowed users to purchase account verification.

Elon Musk’s munakara Jupiter is found in his fifth house of leisure activities, and whilst the former platform known as Twitter is used by many subscribers for entertainment and social banter, it was also a relatively safe forum for human rights activists to exercise their freedom of speech within countries under harsh totalitarian regimes. Twitter is now under new management and Musk’s new leadership exposes these advocates who are no longer safe from persecution when their identities and whereabouts can be sold by Musk to the highest bidder.

Musk’s lack of regulation has opened the floodgates for hate speech against marginalized groups and misinformation.

As a recent example shows, on October 11 2023 the European Commission warned Musk in writing that he needed to cease and desist from publishing disinformation, fake news, and old and misleading images on X, otherwise he risks being fined 6% of his revenues from X or a total blackout in the EU.

Saturn is the outcome planet for munakara Jupiter and Musk seems intent on removing the barriers which separate common decency from mob rule. In early January 2023, two months after purchasing Twitter, Musk laid off thousands of Twitter staff working within the platform’s Trust and Safety sector whose job specifications were to handle misinformation, global content moderation, hate speech, and harassment.

Musk’s Saturn rules his seventh and eighth houses and the outcome of munakara Jupiter’s desire to be a cross-bearer who fights heroically for free speech and an interplanetary future is costing Musk a small fortune. In February 2023 Musk tweeted

Last three months were extremely tough, as had to save Twitter from bankruptcy, while fulfilling essential Tesla and SpaceX duties. Wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone.

On 27th October 2022 Musk purchased Twitter for $US44 billion (about $69 AUS billion), one year later X (formerly Twitter) is valued at $US19 billion. Still a grand sum in the scheme of things, but Saturn is no friend of Jupiter and even for the world’s richest man there must be a point when the money pit bottoms out.

Jupiter, the significator of children, lies in Musk’s fifth house and Musk has been quoted as saying he’s “doing his best to help the under population crisis” by fathering eleven children, ten of whom are his living progeny. He believes the world is under threat of a potential population collapse, a problem that he swears is a bigger risk to civilization than global warming.

Jupiter in contention may have provided a large number of children for Musk, but as Jupiter is also the ruler of his sixth house of poor health, Musk has suffered a number of mishaps over the years. In true munakara Jupiter style, Musk tried to throw a 350-lb sumo wrestler to the ground a decade ago, something he said “cost me smashing my c5-c6 disk and eight years of mega back pain.” Musk drives himself relentlessly putting in 17-hour days, 7 days a week. He suffers from insomnia, anxiety and depression, as well as having PTSD from a turbulent childhood. There are a number of witnesses who have spoken on Musk self-medicating with ketamine, the horse tranquilizer turned recreational and therapeutic drug (Jupiter in contention in 5th house, ruling 6th house). One ketamine researcher believes prolonged use can alter an individual’s personality and thought process.

A little bit of ketamine has an effect similar to alcohol. It causes disinhibition, where you do and say things you otherwise would not. At higher doses, it has another effect which is dissociation: you feel detached from your body and surroundings. You can feel grandiose and like you have special powers and special talents.

This is not good news if the world’s richest man is operating under the influence of this drug and feeding two contentious planets inclined towards delusions of grandeur and showy risk-taking.

Elon Musk’s Jupiter in the fifth house squares its dispositor Mars in the eighth house. It seems ironic that the man who wants to pioneer and colonize the physical plane of Mars should have its astrological symbol in a state of contention! Nothing could be more symbolic of Mars’ hot separations than the blasting off of rockets into the atmosphere to find new worlds to conquer! Musk fervently believes that the only way in which humanity can survive is for it to become a multiplanet species. Twenty years ago Musk founded Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) to make more affordable rockets to move people and goods across the universe. His funding for this enterprise came from the sale of PayPal, an online transference company for $1.5 billion dollars in 2002. Munakara Mars resides in the house of ‘other people’s money’ and rules Musk’s Mid-heaven and his fifth house.

Mars is a nocturnal planet and whilst Saturn is its dispositor for the sign of Aquarius, Musk and Assange’s final planet in Mars’ munakara sequence is nocturnal Mercury, which in Musk’s case, is conjunct his Ascendant. A prominent Mercury rising at birth often denotes an individual who gains some notoriety and who creates a brand-name in their own right. However, when Mercury becomes the outcome planet for munakara Mars, there is a sharpness of the brain (IQ of 150) which creates a steady flow of ideas, opinions, and often, gives rise to outrageous statements. Musk was excellent at self-promotion when he was a subscriber to Twitter, but ownership has unbalanced him as he encourages division, hate and extremism on the newly named X platform. Nor has he restricted himself to muck-raking here. On the eve of the first anniversary of X, Musk’s puerile remarks turned towards Wikipedia, the open source website used for sharing references and knowledge on a global scale.

He saw a collective resource that people prized and he wanted to hurt it,

wrote Guardian journalist Zoe Williams. Musk challenged Wikipedia’s request for small donations to keep it afloat, posting on X that he would donate $1bn if it would change its name to Dickipedia.

Elon Musk’s most recent public appearance to date occurred on 3rd November 2023 in an interview with British PM Rishi Sunak at the AI Safety Summit. Musk’s two munakara planets could not be more evident when making the prediction of a time when humans will no longer need to work (Mars in 8th house).

We are seeing the most disruptive force in history here. There will come a point where no job is needed. You can have a job if you want ...but the AI will be able to do everything.

Musk, who co-founded the ChatGPD developer OpenAI, and has launched a new venture called xAI seems to feel he can both profit from AI, whilst at the same time describing AI as “one of the biggest threats to humanity”, adding that it was “not clear we can control such a thing, but we can aspire to guide it in a direction that is beneficial to humanity.“

Julian Assange: Jupiter in Munakara / Mars in Munakara

Julian Assange
Source: David G. Silvers, Cancillería del Ecuador, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Natal Chart Julian Assange, Jupiter and Mars in Munakara
Source: Astrodatabank

Julian Assange’s munakara Jupiter lies in his twelfth house and he has made many formidable hidden enemies during his time at the head of not-for-profit website WikiLeaks. Institutions of power across the world have been hunting him for years, but even as a youth Assange used his contentious Jupiter to work in secrecy, infiltrating and exposing weaknesses within the Establishment (Saturn on the Descendant is Jupiter’s outcome planet). Contentious Jupiter in Scorpio is in aversion to its Sagittarian sign on the Ascendant, and although there have been many claims that Assange is in this for the fame, notoriety and global attention, this astrological statement questions these allegations. Rather, Assange (and munakara Jupiter) has always been blind to the fact that his actions are extremely dangerous, have the potential to rob him of his freedom and his legal rights, and may ultimately be life-threatening.

Munakara Mars sits on Assange’s I.C. opposite his Mid-heaven and its two-degree conjunction to the North Node is tighter than Musk’s same union which is almost six degrees apart. Perhaps munakara Mars’ conjunction to North Node is Assange’s compulsion to play the role of freedom fighter, and that especially under the conditions of war, he pursues those in power whom he feels must be held accountable for their actions. Mars has just crossed over the fourth house cusp in the Placidus system but it would stay in the third house in his Whole Sign chart. This position may better suit Assange’s inner dialogue as his contentious Mars has made him a warrior in the pursuit of secret data (Mars rules his Whole Sign 12th house). Assange’s Ecuadorian embassy period from 2012 to 2019 saw Assange’s munakara Mars on the I.C. challenged by his restricted living conditions within the embassy. For seven years Assange was constrained within a living space of roughly 360 square feet, an office space converted to hold a bed, telephone, sun lamp, computer, shower, treadmill and kitchenette. Cameras and listening devices were secretly installed and every conversation and meeting was taped and sold to various interested parties, including the CIA, by Assange’s diplomatic hosts.

In both charts Mars’ dispositor Saturn is in opposition to Neptune and whilst this aspect may be interpreted as Musk’s motives in spreading misinformation, Assange has always been clear in his objectives. Saturn plays a major role in both munakara sequences – as outcome planet for Jupiter, and as first dispositor for Mars – and any input from Saturn will bring Neptune as its tag-along companion. The Neptune trifecta of Victim/ Saviour/ Persecutor manifests through Saturn’s involvement with Jupiter and Mars, but the placement of the opposition across Assange’s Ascendant/Descendent line suggests he will play the role of each character whether he chooses them or they are chosen for him.

Public pressure to release Assange and cancel the charges against him is growing but with twelfth house Jupiter in aspect to Mars on the I.C, and both planets in munakara, it may be that the wheels of justice and politics move too slowly and this man, saint or sinner, may be running out of time.

Endnote:
(1) Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, The Book of Instruction in the Elements of the Art of Astrology, 1934, translation by R.Ramsey Wright, published by LUZAC, London, p. 308

First published in: FAA Journal, December 2023.

Author:
Joy Usher has been teaching and consulting in astrology for the past 25 years. Joy has lectured at national and international conferences and held numerous workshops throughout her career.
 Joy is co-founder of the school Astro Mundi and has published three books on the practice of traditional astrology: as co-author to Scala Coeli: A Ladder to Heaven (2012) and as the author of two books A Tiny Universe: Astrology and the Thema Mundi Chart (2018) and the follow up to this book A Tiny Universe’s Companion: Popular Techniques in Traditional Astrology (2018).
 Joy writes a regular blog called The Firdaria Diaries which can be found on her website http://www.atinyuniverse-joyusher.com. She recently held an interview with Mychal A. Bryan which can be seen on his You Tube channel, Oraculos, The True Divination Podcast.

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