by Jim Hurlburt
So far, it’s already been an interesting start to the 2020 hurricane season. Bertha and Cristobal are both showing Saturn square Lilith at landfall, which shouldn’t be too surprising to anyone knowing the storm basics when considering Lilith in conjunctions and squares and the occasional opposition. It would seem, if Lilith would have any further say, then it would be a full and busy hurricane season, especially with long position planets, like Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus, and throughout the season the timely position of Mars. Although every Lilith conjunction or square, and sometimes opposition is important, it is more so for the Atlantic and Gulf to consider Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn with special attention, since the 2020 season highlights them throughout.
Further in the season’s journey, but yet still down the way, marks the chart (August 13, 2020, 11:30 pm, for the Upper Gulf Region) with the possibilities which tend to show the Upper Gulf of Mexico for the landfall. To determine this, it more certainly requires the following through with Nodal relationships, as well as a further consideration of the Sun and Moon. The planets paint the rest of the picture with additional “tells” in their contacts.
Noting that Saturn with Lilith can show tendency to most any location, with as which can only be defined by other regional determinants. For instance, for the Upper Gulf of Mexico, the hard Saturn-Lilith angle will almost always be with Venus, Mars, and Uranus in a quintile formation, as can be seen Camille and a 1909 storm. Katrina makes use a 2 degree out of orb Mars to form an original quintile configuration with Venus and Uranus. With Jupiter-Lilith and Mars-Lilith, there are favorite areas of location. Yet, it often goes beyond a one-planet aspect with Lilith on to making a full aspect formation. Lilith and the Moon’s Nodes have a special connection in that how the Nodes and Lilith are activated further by other features to show location. Most often to the Upper Gulf, the Nodes show with prominent Moon, Venus, and Neptune positions. Lilith, for this same region shows with strong Sun, Jupiter, and Neptune connections. Remember the form; like the configurations of five planets and luminaries, but so that what is prominent and strong in one is not read into the same way to each of the two points and their groups. They should be considered in their own light, and they will not be identically positioned, which will be explained further on.
Starting with the three planets (Moon, Venus, and Neptune) with the Nodes, which go best with identifying storms of the Upper Gulf, realizing this method is where angles can show in wider orbs and simpler form what can bring bigger results. The Moon here, and the Sun into parts of Florida, has been noted to share the same cross signs as the Nodes. Check first within ten degrees, and then within twenty degrees of the aspect. It’s best to at least slightly more than half the time it is either square or conjunct the Node. The ones that don’t configure in interesting ways, are away from those basics. If not in cross, the Moon will be sesquisquare, biquintile, or quincunx. Venus and Neptune do the cross sign bit, too, just more consistently. Sometimes the three aspects, in a way to where only one sticks to this basic with the Nodes, should still be identifiable as dominant with a strong position in the chart. For instance, Venus sometimes works in trines with Neptune and the Nodes , as in Upper Gulf storms such as Katrina and Camille, which have a strong Saturn-Lilith connection.
When considering the importance of cross signs showing with certain Nodal contacts, the orbs on occasion may extend beyond ten degrees, and for those that do this the form will most often include a notable midpoint, at least always involving the Sun or the Moon. The Moon, Jupiter . and Node midpoints in Hurricane Ivan are good examples of this. There may be the occasional oddball, such as Carmen 1974, in which Neptune is in opposition to the Moon and the South Node midpoint . Midpoints with both Sun and Moon tend to take form with another third body other than the Node. (Sun/Moon/Mars in Katrina, Sun/Moon/Venus in Hilda 1964.) More common is the Node with Venus and Neptune, as shown in Betsy 1965 and storm from 1915. A possible variation is shown with Frederic 1979, where Saturn conjuncts the Venus/North Node midpoint, and both ends of the Moon/Neptune opposition additionally squares Saturn, bringing influence from the noted three points of Moon, Venus and Neptune.
It really helps to read quintile family aspects when considering landfalls of the Upper Gulf. The Sun and/or Moon (at least one) is always involved in such, as are Jupiter and Saturn. Lilith and the Nodes see their share, too. When a three planet plus configuration takes place, watch carefully. It is okay when one leg drops to sesquisquare or rises to quincunx from a biquintile norm. Here with quintiles, wide orbs or slightly out of orb aspects do carry water.
Only a few major storm charts for this area do not have the Sun and Moon at least a sextile close or closer, with an occasional New Moon. However, don’t count out the occasional biquintile in orb (such as Elena 1985 and a 1926 storm) or the lesser aspect known as tredicile (Carmen 1974 and a 1915 storm) to note that these sets of storms offer a look at rhythmic seasons, both at 59 years or two Saturn returns.
In the chart given, Sun and Moon are sextile to where each are additionally biquintile. Sun to Jupiter and Moon to Saturn are the two biquintiles. Notice the further quincunxes of Sun to Neptune and Saturn to the North Node. With Jupiter sextile Neptune, it seems to go along well with the Jupiter square Lilith, which has the Upper Gulf as one of two favorite locations. It is more preferred to the area for T-squares, Grand Crosses, and even Grand Trines over a Yod unless the Yod has a lopsided leg. The Moon, Mercury, and Jupiter Yod is favorable to a water body, and with Mercury being conjunct the Sun, then all the more favorable. The Sun biquintile Jupiter in the mix may help bring that leg to where it needs to be.
It is still possible the Nodal relationships of the chart will satisfy the T-square part, and the Sun, Moon, and Mars in minor Grand Trine (Sun trine, and Moon sextile Lilith) where the Upper Gulf does not tend to Moon square/opposition to Lilith. It might also help with the Sun/Mars/South Node. The North Nodes shows prominence with a midpoint of a Moon/Venus where the Moon further squares Neptune. Here is quick reflection of how the August 2020 chart compares to Upper Gulf area storms of the past. Here to focus first on Lilith to Sun, Jupiter, and Neptune. With their Lilith connections, these three prefer hard aspects to themselves and to Lilith, but show a strong second to quintiles. The Sun when in proper coordination to the Moon often like soft aspects to Lilith. Elena 1985 had a Sun trine Lilith, Moon semi-sextile, Sun biquintile Jupiter, Moon biquintile Saturn, very much like the August 2020 chart. Neptune further shows tredicile to Venus, and Venus quintiles Mars. A 1918 storm had a New Moon sextile Lilith, while showing a Moon/Venus/South Node midpoint structure. Notice with this 1918, along with Michael and the August 2020 chart, they show three major planets of relevant cross connections with Lilith, all showing Mars and Jupiter among them.
Many of the Northeastern hurricane landfalls also favor wide conjunctions of Jupiter, Lilith, and the Node, or to where Jupiter squares the other two. It is extremely common for the Sun and Moon to be within twenty degrees of a Full Moon. Though Venus and Mars may be quintile or sextile, the quintile is more common to the Gulf region, especially with either Uranus or a Node. For the Northeastern region, these two are more prominently in conjunction as wide as twenty degrees, though usually closer. Mars and Jupiter tend to opposition or obtuse angles.
The Mars/ Lilith conjunction may favorite Texas, while the Sun also favors the Node, plus a third. As a general rule, major Texas storms show the Sun 30 degrees from the Node, with Uranus close in the same cross signs with the Nodes. If Mars and Lilith are in square or opposition, it is when Neptune is conjunct a Node plus a planet at the time of the storm. Noticing the close proximity of Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto, brings a remembrance of the 1980’s Allen which hit Texas , but it takes more than that to determine it.
What is an allowable or acceptable difference of charts of the same area? The chart here matches the Upper Gulf fair enough, but in such a season this is not the only possibility. Looking to the septiles, other storms and landfalls are likely to other areas as well. Lurking around these times, may also show a Northeastern landfall. It may be a season of full possibilities. This August 2020 chart is such as to be storm conducive. Lilith promises perhaps even more ahead. Few seasons are as active as 2005 was. Still, the 2020 season should have an above average showing. Preparedness is to the wise