SOS and "The Bystander Effect"

Last month another one of these weird events happened where someone was in trouble and a bunch of people were witnessing the event and did nothing to help. In this particular case, a 19 year old boy killed himself while broadcasting his death via a Webcam. 181 viewers watched the event and did nothing for him until it was too late. Many of the witnesses were actually goading the teenager, Abraham Biggs, Jr., on; perhaps thinking that he was playing a joke.

There was an interview on NPR radio last Friday (I think) about this event in which the topic of "The Bystander Effect" was brought up. This case was related to a famous murder which occurred in New York City in 1964 in which a woman, Kitty Genovese, was brutally murdered and then raped outside of her home while her neighbors did nothing to check on her screams for help. Because of the dates I was wondering if this type of event is connected with the Saturn-Uranus opposition in Virgo-Pisces in some way. These are the signs that I think of anyway when issues of "Volunteerism" and "Bystander" come up.

Right now Saturn is in Virgo and Uranus is in Pisces. In 1964 at the time of Kitty Genovese's death, Uranus was in Virgo and Saturn was in Aquarius, not yet in Pisces. These aren't leadership signs known for their valour. They don't rush in to hurt people and they also don't rush in to help either. They survive by staying out of the limelight. On the other hand, they have to deal with this as a weakness and we all must deal with awareness of this frailty of human nature when situations like this occur. These types of crimes happen every day but perhaps come to the fore and are noticed when the Saturn-Uranus oppositions occur in Virgo-Pisces. Oppositions talk about dealing with relationships, "the opposite or other".

The 1964 murder-rape is connected with living in an apathetic urban environment. The 2008 suicide of Abraham Biggs, Jr. is connected with the Apathetic and Faceless Internet environment. (The first Internet Suicide was actually committed in 2003 in Phoenix, AZ. This was the death of Brandon Vedas who was also goaded on by Internet viewers.) These events seem to lead up to the Saturn-Uranus oppositions. And by the time of the actual Virgo-Pisces opposition of the planets occurs the topic is a major problem which people are ready to face. Questions of issues pertaining to "The Bystander Effect" and "Civil Courage" and "Volunteer Dilemma" come to the forefront. The tendency of "Apathy" is probably also. It's a distant emotional state that expresses the cursed side of living within in a large community of people/strangers. Uranus brings emotional detachment. Saturn always brings difficult Lessons with regards to whatever he touches.

I'm going to post the crime information and Kitty Genovese' birth date because it is given on Wikipedia. There are some interesting coincidences in the charts. Venus, surprisingly, is involved. She is unaspected in both event charts and passing through the 3d House (of neighbors, community). She is also in the same sign with Jupiter (Jupiter rules the 9th House opposite the 3d house so maybe connected?). Venus was out of bounds during Abraham Bigg's death as well, another emphasis on her influence. When he announced his intentions and started taking his "medications" (diagnosed Bipolar, 2 previous attempts, who the hell was his idiot shrink?), Libra was rising so Venus ruled this event chart. The police entered Biggs' Jrs' Father's home and found him about 12 hours later right around the time that Libra would have been on the opposite angle, the Descendant. (Just for the record, I've said many times before that I think there is a connection between Venus and Suicide, usually in contact with a Sun aspect.)

Another interesting coincidence was the conjunction of Sun-Mercury and Mars in both charts. That sure is an aspect which signifies SOS or Screaming for Help. In addition, Sun and Mars together is violent. Mercury adds the "neighbor" and "community" theme. It ought to add the "Communication" theme, but in both of these cases that part failed. Both conjunctions were heavily afflicted. Biggs, Jrs' Sun-Mercury-Mars (event chart) was apex to a t-square to Moon opposite Chiron-Neptune. Genovese's Sun-Mercury-Mars (event chart) was conjunct Chiron-Sun and opposing Uranus-Pluto in H8 of murder. It was also layered over her natal Saturn-Neptune opposition.

In Biggs, Jr.'s event chart Sun-Mercury-Mars is crossing the cusp of Scorpio (Sun-Mercury) and Sagittarius (Mars). In Genovese's event chart, there was a huge stellium in Pisces, Sun-Mercury-Mars-Chiron-Moon which was opposing Uranus-Pluto in Virgo. This was layered right on top of Genovese's natal Saturn in Pisces opposition to Neptune in Virgo. In both cases the conjunction was placed in the 2d House opposite the 8th House of Death and Murder. Notice that both event charts just happen to be set for 3:15am, just an interesting coincidence.

Another coincidental connection between the two charts would be the contacts between Moon and Chiron. Moon = the Public and Chiron = not being able to heal a wound. In Biggs, Jr.'s case the Moon was in Leo opposing Chiron (and the North Node). In Genovese's case, the Moon was in Pisces conjunct Chiron (and everything else).

Another coincidence was the presence of unaspected planets in the 3d House of neighbors and community. Unaspected planets literally don't have a relationship with other planets (only ptolomaic aspects considered, there are minor aspects in both cases). This is literally represented by the actual events. In Biggs, Jr.'s case, Pluto was unaspected at the time of his announcement. I wonder if he actually expired as Pluto was passing over the Ascendant. The Witnesses said they noticed that he had stopped breathing around 4 hours or so into the "Event." Venus was conjunct the IC and moving into the 3d House. In Genovese's case, Both Venus and Jupiter were unaspected and in the 3d House. Both victims were screaming for help and not getting it.

Kitty Genovese's chart is almost a prototype for a chart related to a horrible crime. The Saturn-Neptune opposition in Virgo-Pisces would certainly be connected with being a Victim. As I said earlier it was heavily afflicted by transit. She was 28 years old not yet having her Saturn Return so would possibly have been having a Secondary Progressed Lunar Return. Genovese also had a natal t-square with apex Mars in Libra squaring Pluto-South Node opposite North Node in Capricorn. This is a key signature for vulnerability to violence. There is an interesting story connected with her first Nodal Return. Her Mother moved the family out of New York City and up to Connecticut after witnessing a Murder. This was in 1954 when Genovese was 19 (Nodal Return). Her Sun-Nodal Axis was passing over the ASC/DESC angle as she was attacked. I think she was also going through a Nodal opposition. There's really a lot to look at in these charts and I'm not getting to it all.

Abraham Biggs, Jr. was 19 which is an indicator that he was going through a Nodal Return in Aquarius but I don't have his birth time. The conjunction of Neptune and Chiron to the North Node could certainly be an impetus for the public to demand that the psychiatrists dispense their damn pills more responsibly but who's going to listen to me?

May both of these Victim's Souls Rest in Peace. May we all feel their loss deeply and learn to improve our attitudes to the pain of others.


Abraham Biggs, Jr.
Suicide: Nov. 19, 2008 announced intentions over Internet 3:15 am; Pembroke Pines, Florida

Sun 29 Scorpio; Moon 21 Leo; ASC 8 Libra; MC 8 Cancer; NN 13 Aquarius

***********

Kitty Genovese
b. July 7, 1935 Brooklyn, NY

Sun 15 Cancer; Moon Virgo or Libra; NN 23 Capricorn

Murder/Rape Event:
Mar. 13, 1964 3:15 am New York Mills Gardens, NY

Sun 23 Pisces; ASC 16 Capricorn; Moon 14 Pisces; MC 12 Scorpio; NN 9 Cancer conjunct DESC.